“Change is not necessary because survival is not mandatory.”
Those words from a participant at the 2024 Ogallala Aquifer Summit gave me pause. The speaker was discussing the management of the Ogallala Aquifer and the survival of the farms, ranches and communities relying on it.
And if there was one overarching theme to come out of the summit, it was that folks agree changes need to happen to ensure that the aquifer is around for future generations.
What those changes may be and how they’re implemented? That’s the messy elephant in the room.
This was the third Ogallala Aquifer Summit. Held every three years, it brings together stakeholders from all segments of the communities who use the aquifer.
The Ogallala lies under six states and is the lifeblood of the Great Plains, supporting municipalities, business and industry, and agriculture. There’s a lot riding on making sure we conserve it.
Read more at FarmProgress.