The Evolving Impact of the Ogallala Aquifer: Agricultural Adaptation to Groundwater and Climate∗
نویسندگان
چکیده
Agriculture on the American Great Plains has been constrained by historical water scarcity. After World War II, technological improvements made groundwater from the Ogallala aquifer available for irrigation. Comparing counties over the Ogallala with nearby similar counties, groundwater access increased irrigation intensity and initially reduced the impact of droughts. Over time, land-use adjusted toward water-intensive crops and drought-sensitivity increased; conversely, farmers in water-scarce counties maintained drought-resistant practices that fully mitigated higher drought-sensitivity. Land values capitalized the Ogallala’s value at $26 billion in 1974; as extraction remained high and water levels declined, the Ogallala’s value fell to $9 billion in 2002.
منابع مشابه
Assessing the Option Value of the Ogallala Aquifer in Texas High Plains: a Contingent Valuation Approach
The decline of the groundwater in the Ogallala Aquifer may create an uncertainty for water availability in the associated states in the future. Effective policy reforms are essential to determine efficient present and future use of water resources. Therefore, this study explores the option value for reducing current groundwater use to ensure the water availability in the Ogallala aquifer for fu...
متن کاملTrends in Playa Inundation and Water Storage in the Ogallala Aquifer on the Texas High Plains
The Ogallala Aquifer is an important source of irrigation water on the Texas High plains; however, significant decreases in saturated thickness threaten its future use for irrigation. A better understanding of the roles of playas, ephemeral surface ponds, in aquifer recharge is needed to establish levels of withdrawals that will meet either established desired future conditions or sustainabilit...
متن کاملDetermination of vulnerability of aquifer Ardebil using DRASTIC method in GIS
Background and Objective: Groundwater resources are the most valuable resources of each country. Development of agricultural activities in Ardabil plain and over-use of fertilizers and pesticides, improper disposal of municipal sewage and industrial areas are responsible for groundwater pollution. Clean-up of groundwater resources is very difficult and expensive. One of suitable method in preve...
متن کاملThe Impact of the Phenomenon of Drought on Groundwater Quantity using Fuzzy Model (Case Study: Plain Gotvand- Aghili)
Abstract The negative balance of water reserves and reduce the size of static storage aquifers including the effects of the drought phenomenon is repeated on the status of surface and groundwater resources in Iran including Khuzestan province has had an impact. In this study, using fuzzy and ArcGIS version also better understand the effects created in the statistical period on the aquifer Gotv...
متن کاملThe Impact of the Phenomenon of Drought on Groundwater Quantity using Fuzzy Model (Case Study: Plain Gotvand- Aghili)
Abstract The negative balance of water reserves and reduce the size of static storage aquifers including the effects of the drought phenomenon is repeated on the status of surface and groundwater resources in Iran including Khuzestan province has had an impact. In this study, using fuzzy and ArcGIS version also better understand the effects created in the statistical period on the aquifer Gotv...
متن کامل