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Texas Tech University |
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Interesting Statistics of the Ogallala Aquifer and High Plains Region |
 It is
the largest groundwater system in North America.
Its 3.3
bullion acre feet of fresh water would fill lake Huron with enough water
remaining to fill one-fifth of Lake Ontario.
If
pumped out over the United States, the aquifer would cover all 50 states with
one and 1/2 feet of water.
If
completely drained, it would take more than 6,000 years to refill.
Over
170,000 wells pump from the aquifer, one for every square mile.
Over
50,000 of these wells are in Northwest Texas.
More
than 90% of the water pumped is used to irrigate crops, and withdrawals equal
30% of the total groundwater used for irrigation in the U.S.
From
1940's to 1980, the aquifer's average water level declined nearly 10 ft. a year.
The
aquifer is directly responsible for $20 billion a year in food and fiber
production.
Texas
can produce 2 million more bales of cotton a year because of the aquifer.
The
Texas High Plains accounts for 34% of the state's total cropland and 69% of the
total irrigated cropland.
Cotton,
wheat, and grain sorghum are the most significant Texas crops grown in the
region.
The
aquifer covers 35,000 square miles in Texas (11% of state's lands).
Mean
precipitation range of 14-22 inches for Texas High Plains.
Average
saturated thickness in the Texas region of 112 ft with a range of 3-500 ft. |
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