Potential economic impacts of water-use changes in Southwest Kansas

Abstract

This research considers three policy scenarios aimed at reducing groundwater consumption in three high priority subareas of southwest Kansas. The three policy scenarios include: (1) a Status Quo scenario where there is no change in water-use policy, (2) an Immediate Conversion to Dryland scenario where all groundwater pumping is halted, and (3) a Reallocation scenario, which allows only a 40% reduction in saturated thickness in 25 years. Each policy scenario is simulated under normal versus drought weather conditions. Results suggest that, from both a community and producer perspective, groundwater conservation policy can generate positive economic gains.

Keywords:

• Ogallala
• agriculture
• aquifer
• policy
• drought
• management

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the State of Kansas Water Plan Fund, Groundwater Management District #3, and the USDA-ARS Ogallala Aquifer Project.

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