Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / David R. Steward / Kansas relies on groundwater for nearly 85 percent of the total water used each year,
most of which is used for irrigation. Over the last 30 years, declining groundwater levels in
some areas have put pressure on agricultural industries. Ongoing research on the usage of
groundwater resources will be necessary to sustain agriculture.
In this study, two groundwater models were developed to investigate groundwater availability
and use in western Kansas. The first model, called the Saturated Thickness Model
(STM), investigated how groundwater resources will change over the next century. The
second model, called the Change in Water Level Model (CWLM), was used to forecast water
use trends for three agricultural districts in western Kansas by relating the change in
groundwater levels over time to the volume of water pumped for irrigation. To understand
how these changes would affect the agricultural industry, the research investigated historical
trends in reported groundwater use, corn production and cattle in feedyards.
The results showed significant decreases in the modeled saturated thickness over the next
100 years in western Kansas. Modeled groundwater use matched reported groundwater use
data relatively well. The model showed significant decreases in groundwater use over the
next 100 years, with the largest decrease being in the southwest district. Overall, forecast
water use trends were in agreement with current outlooks for each area. The results from the
correlation analysis showed a negative relationship between groundwater use and irrigated
corn production, indicating improved irrigation efficiency and crop species over the past
30 years. Further correlations showed the number of cattle on feed in a particular area
increased with the amount of irrigated corn production in the same area. This implies the
cattle feedyards tendency toward local source of grain.
As groundwater resources decline, corn production will decrease, and changes in the
agricultural landscape will require adaptation. Feedyards will need to find new sources
of corn grain or change to a less water dependent feed. Further research is needed to
determine where corn grain will be produced in the next 100 years, and how corn grain will
be transported to feedyards in southwest Kansas.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:KSU/oai:krex.k-state.edu:2097/17147 |
| Date | January 1900 |
| Creators | Bruss, Paul J. |
| Publisher | Kansas State University |
| Source Sets | K-State Research Exchange |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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