Sustainability of aquifers supporting irrigated agriculture: a case study of the High Plains aquifer in Kansas

Abstract

The only means of moderating alarming depletion rates in many of the world’s major aquifers is to reduce pumping. We apply a new water-balance approach to assess the impact of pumping reductions in a portion of the High Plains aquifer in the United States. Although projected aquifer responses to pumping reductions vary, practically achievable reductions would have a large impact throughout the area. These findings demonstrate that modest pumping reductions could greatly enhance prospects for groundwater-supported irrigation in the High Plains aquifer and similar aquifers elsewhere.