When I was stationed at Ft Sill in the early 1980s, questions were being raised about the dry land farmers to the north who were raising corn on pivot irrigation systems - drawing directly from the Ogallala, with small, but measurable drops being recorded every year.
IIRC, even National Geographic did at least one, and I think two articles on the problem.
The state of the Ogallala has been under discussion since the mid to late 1970's, with the biggest 'fix' being 'we got more rain this year, so it recharged better, so we can kick the can down the road a bit'.
ISTR that the verdict back in the 80s was that the Ogallala had last been fully filled at the end of the last ice age, and that the recharge rate since that time would take more than a millennium IF and only IF all draws from the aquifer were stopped right damn then, AND the peak rainfall/snow pack continued for at least half of that time.
Surface lakes, that are NIMBY as hell locally would help in some areas. But the Green/Watermelon Party (Green on the outside, Red on the inside) new dam construction up nearly as much as they tie up new nuclear plant construction.
The seven states treaty for the Colorado river was written based on bad data from its inception. Thank you Herbert Hoover. Re negotiations have been ongoing and failing since the year 2000. Thank you California. For people in, say Las Vegas, it's not about the water. We pull less than one half of one percent as our part of the treaty and we pull it from under the lake. It's about the power. At 941 feet Lake Mead hits dead pool and the turbines stop. No one gets power. So I just bought a little bit of land elsewhere. I believe I have 2027 because the feds have forced a treaty for that long.
Government always puts a high priority on development. That creates jobs which in turn increases the tax base which increases the treasury and their power to do what is best for the people they serve...whether the people want it or not. The important thing for government is to be in charge.
Fun fact: The Colorado Water Compact assumed significantly higher than normal water flow as it was based on several years of above average rainfall. Thus requiring the upstream states to use far less water than their "fair share" in normal years in order to meet the compact requirements.
OK, Why is this just being noticed in 2026?
When I was stationed at Ft Sill in the early 1980s, questions were being raised about the dry land farmers to the north who were raising corn on pivot irrigation systems - drawing directly from the Ogallala, with small, but measurable drops being recorded every year.
IIRC, even National Geographic did at least one, and I think two articles on the problem.
The state of the Ogallala has been under discussion since the mid to late 1970's, with the biggest 'fix' being 'we got more rain this year, so it recharged better, so we can kick the can down the road a bit'.
ISTR that the verdict back in the 80s was that the Ogallala had last been fully filled at the end of the last ice age, and that the recharge rate since that time would take more than a millennium IF and only IF all draws from the aquifer were stopped right damn then, AND the peak rainfall/snow pack continued for at least half of that time.
Everybody has been 'kicking the can' down the road. Nobody wants to be 'that guy' that stands up and says farmers need to stop what they are doing.
Surface lakes, that are NIMBY as hell locally would help in some areas. But the Green/Watermelon Party (Green on the outside, Red on the inside) new dam construction up nearly as much as they tie up new nuclear plant construction.
Because the politicians get no benefits from bringing problems before people. And 70's when I was in high school.
The seven states treaty for the Colorado river was written based on bad data from its inception. Thank you Herbert Hoover. Re negotiations have been ongoing and failing since the year 2000. Thank you California. For people in, say Las Vegas, it's not about the water. We pull less than one half of one percent as our part of the treaty and we pull it from under the lake. It's about the power. At 941 feet Lake Mead hits dead pool and the turbines stop. No one gets power. So I just bought a little bit of land elsewhere. I believe I have 2027 because the feds have forced a treaty for that long.
Now add all the industry and data centers moving to TX.
Government always puts a high priority on development. That creates jobs which in turn increases the tax base which increases the treasury and their power to do what is best for the people they serve...whether the people want it or not. The important thing for government is to be in charge.
(edited typo)
Fun fact: The Colorado Water Compact assumed significantly higher than normal water flow as it was based on several years of above average rainfall. Thus requiring the upstream states to use far less water than their "fair share" in normal years in order to meet the compact requirements.
There is an advantage to living in the Great Lakes Basin.....
Just sayn'.