groundwater pumping
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Water crisis looms in Oklahoma panhandle as pork processing booms
A pork processing plant has revitalized Guymon’s economy but has accelerated the depletion of the region’s vital groundwater supply.
In short:
- Seaboard Foods' pork processing plant has markedly increased groundwater depletion in the Oklahoma panhandle, exacerbating an already declining water supply.
- Weak state water laws and lack of enforcement have allowed unchecked water use, creating a looming crisis for local agriculture and residents.
- Guymon officials are concerned about the sustainability of water resources, with new wells needed to support continued economic activity.
Key quote:
“Seaboard takes a lot of water, but if we didn’t have the feedstuff to feed the million-plus pigs, Seaboard would not be there and Guymon would dry up and blow away, as with the rest of the panhandle.”
— Oklahoma senator, Casey Murdock
Why this matters:
The depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer threatens both the economic stability and future viability of agriculture in the region, impacting food production and local livelihoods. Read more: As hog farms grow in size and number, so do Iowa water problems.
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Recent court rulings bolster state power to safeguard groundwater
In a significant shift, western states are gaining ground in the battle to conserve their precious groundwater resources.
In short:
- Recent court decisions in Idaho, Nevada and Montana have empowered states to enforce stricter groundwater usage rules to combat overpumping.
- The rulings are part of a broader movement that includes California's steps to penalize over-extraction and the White House's consultation with scientists on federal support.
- These measures address the critical decline in groundwater levels, a vital source for drinking water and agriculture exacerbated by climate change.
Key quote:
"This is truly exciting. There has been stuff like this off and on, but not in such a short period of time across the western states."
— Upmanu Lall, director of both the Water Institute at ASU and the Columbia Water Center at Columbia University.
Why this matters:
Groundwater depletion poses a threat to the sustainability of drinking water supplies, agricultural productivity and urban development. Whereas deference to water rights established in a bygone era have maintained a legacy of water injustice, these recent court decisions signal a pivotal shift to more equitable water considerations.
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How America’s diet is feeding the groundwater crisis
As dinner tables and snack menus feature far more chicken and cheese, farms are expanding where water is scarce.
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