Project ID: TX3241

Title: Regional Economic Impacts of Aquifer Decline in the Southern High Plains of Texas

Focus Categories: Groundwater, Agriculture

Keywords: irrigation, regional economics, Ogallala Aquifer

Start Date: 03/01/2001

End Date: 02/28/2002

Federal Funds: $5,000

Non-Federal Matching Funds: $10,002

Congressional District: 19

Principal Investigator:
Jeffrey W. Johnson
Student, Texas Tech University

Abstract

The goal of this study is to determine the long-term economic impacts of restrictive groundwater conservation measures on the economy of the Texas High Plains region. The study will include a 23-county area that utilizes the Ogallala Aquifer as a groundwater source. The project will develop dynamic optimization models to analyze crop production under different water conservation scenarios, and will assess how these conservation strategies may affect when the Aquifer would be economically exhausted.

Progress/Completion Report PDF