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Ground‐Water Management in the High Plains a
Author(s) -
Wickersham Ginia
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1980.tb03401.x
Subject(s) - groundwater , water resources , environmental science , american west , water resource management , environmental planning , geography , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , ecology , history , ethnology , geotechnical engineering , biology
The High Plains region of mid‐America depends on ground water to a huge extent. A review of three States‐Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma—shows a disparity in ground‐water management in the region. Texas landowners own the ground water as a property right and the emphasis is on local management districts to control ground‐water use. Colorado, in contrast, has State control of ground water and regulation by permit from the State Engineer. Oklahoma is unique in tightly regulating ground water through limitations on pumpage, while still adhering to ownership by the individual landowner. In spite of these differences, six of the High Plains States have united in a joint effort to study the ground water in the Ogallala. A $6 million study funded by EDA will evaluate the economic impacts of ground‐water mining and determine future water resources management in the region.