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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #254865
Title: Overview of the Ogallala Aquifer Program

Author
item KLOCKE, NORMAN - Kansas State University
item CLARK, RAY - Collaborator
item Brauer, David

Submitted to: Decennial National Irrigation Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2010
Publication Date: 12/5/2010
Citation: Klocke, N., Clark, R.N., Brauer, D.K. 2010. Overview of the Ogallala Aquifer Program. In: Proceedings of the 5th Decennial National Irrigation Symposium, December 5-8, 2010, Phoenix, Arizona. Paper No:IRR10-10034.2010 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: During the second half of the 20th century, irrigation water from the Ogallala Aquifer increased agricultural productivity on the Southern High Plains; however, withdrawals from the aquifer have exceeded recharge resulting in declining water availability. In order to sustain future agricultural activities, new water conservation technologies and practices are needed. Funding was secured in 2003 for the Ogallala Aquifer Program (OAP), a research and education consortium including ARS-USDA (Lubbock and Bushland, Texas), Kansas State University, Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Service, Texas Tech University, and West Texas A&M University. This report provides an overview of the Ogallala Aquifer Program's successes from 2005 to 2010.

Technical Abstract: Irrigation increased markedly on the Southern High Plains during the second half of the 20th century, drawing water primarily from the Ogallala Aquifer. During this time, irrigation sustained regional farm incomes and rural economies. Withdrawals from the aquifer, however, have exceeded recharge, resulting in declining water availability. In order to sustain future agricultural activities, new water conservation technologies and practices are needed. To pursue such an objective, funding was secured in 2003 for the Ogallala Aquifer Program (OAP), a research and education consortium including ARS-USDA (Lubbock and Bushland, Texas), Kansas State University, Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Service, Texas Tech University, and West Texas A&M University. Research successes to date include: 1) economic assessment of various water conservation strategies; 2) improved management strategies for subsurface drip and deficit irrigation; 3) improved irrigation scheduling techniques; 4) improved practices for dryland farming; and 5) technologies for water conservation in confined animal feeding operations and animal processing plants.