Water Depletion Across the Ogallala Aquifer

The chart shows the average water loss in feet through 2017 for each state on the Ogallala Aquifer since large-scale irrigation began in the 1950s. The average decline across the aquifer is 16.8 feet. South Dakota is the only state where the average aquifer levels have risen.

a column chart showing water depletion across the Ogallala Aquifer
2017 represents the most recent data published by the U.S. Geological Survey. Figures are released every other year, and those for 2019, 2021 and 2023 have not yet been released.
Chart: Zoe Manzanetti, Governing, via Allison Kite, StatelineSource: U.S. Geological SurveyEmbedCreated with Datawrapper