Estimated groundwater withdrawals from principal aquifers in the United States, 2015

Abstract

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Trends in U.S. Irrigated Agriculture: Increasing Resilience Under Water Supply Scarcity

“…Diminishing irrigated acreage in the region was partially tempered by the irrigated agricultural sector's increased reliance on non-surface water resources. Withdrawals for irrigation from the Central Valley aquifer system, the third most intensively pumped aquifer in the United States, increased by 14 percent over the 2000-15 period (Lovelace et al, 2020). This suggests that irrigated producers in the Central Valley adjusted to reductions in surface water availability through an increased reliance on groundwater.…”

“…Figure 6 also highlights contrasting acreage trends in the Southern and Northern Plains regions. The High Plains Aquifer, which overlies portions of eight States across the Plains regions, is the most intensively pumped aquifer in the United States (Lovelace et al, 2020). The aquifer contributes approximately $3 billion in gross value annually to the U.S. agricultural sector (García Suárez et al, 2018).…”

“…Significant expansion of irrigated agriculture in the Mississippi Delta region is concentrated in areas overlying the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer, the second most intensively pumped aquifer in the United States (Lovelace et al, 2020). Withdrawals for irrigation from the aquifer increased by 28 percent between 2000 and 2015 (Lovelace et al, 2020), suggesting that expansion in irrigated acres was attributable, in part, to more intensive groundwater pumping.…”

“…Significant expansion of irrigated agriculture in the Mississippi Delta region is concentrated in areas overlying the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer, the second most intensively pumped aquifer in the United States (Lovelace et al, 2020). Withdrawals for irrigation from the aquifer increased by 28 percent between 2000 and 2015 (Lovelace et al, 2020), suggesting that expansion in irrigated acres was attributable, in part, to more intensive groundwater pumping. Figure 6 further highlights irrigation expansions in areas of the Eastern United States historically dominated by rain-fed agriculture-including the southeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain (primarily in southern Georgia), as well as the north-central Corn Belt region, parts of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial aquifer, and eastern Chesapeake Bay region.…”

Water availability in southwest Georgia and northeast Florida

“…However, more recent data show declining trends. From 2000 to 2015, withdrawals of fresh water from the aquifer system for public supply, irrigation, and industry declined by approximately 27 percent (Lovelace et al 2020). Withdrawn water is also being used more efficiently.…”