The Water Story Runs Under the Fields

The flat ground does not show the layers of sand, gravel, clay, and silt below it. The Texas Water Development Board says the Ogallala supplies more water to Texas users than any other aquifer, and about 95 percent of the groundwater pumped from it goes to irrigated agriculture. That is the quiet water system behind much of the High Plains farm landscape.

There is no single countywide answer for a rural well. Across much of the Ogallala, withdrawals exceed recharge and water levels have declined. The High Plains Water District's map shows individual wells, water levels, and estimates of aquifer thickness. It also requires a permit before drilling or producing from a well expected to make at least 17.5 gallons per minute.