Lawmakers and stakeholders gathered this week to discuss the importance of the Ogallala Aquifer.
At the third Ogallala Aquifer Summit in Liberal, Kansas, attendees were reminded the depletion of the aquifer is not a problem to be solved, but a situation to be managed. Leaders shared at the meeting what the water system means to agriculture in their state.
95% of the ground water pumped from the Ogallala Aquifer each year is for irrigated agriculture, as well as for livestock It supports $3.5 billion worth of crop production in Kansas. Analysts say the depletion of the aquifer could result in a $33 million loss for Kansas and a $56 million annual loss for Texas by the year 2050.
