Groundwater Irrigation: Declining Water Levels in the Texas High Plains Translate to Declining Economic Performance

摘要

Rapid development of irrigation systems in a seven-county area of west Texas following World War II led to the establishment of a highly intensified agricultural production system. As irrigation grew, so did population and employment. The source of irrigation water, the Ogallala Aquifer, is drying up. As the water level declines, farmers in the area are faced with some rather severe decisions: Be more efficient in the use of water, change cropping practices to raise plants that need less water, or revert to a dryland economy. As a comparison, an eight-county dryland area, just east of the irrigated area where irrigation water is not available, is analyzed to determine how farmers in the area have learned to operate in a dryland area.