Unlocking aquifer sustainability through irrigator-driven groundwater conservation

Maria Elena Orduña Alegría (), Sam Zipper (), Hoon C. Shin, Jillian M. Deines, Nathan Hendricks, Jonah J. Allen, Geoffrey C. Bohling, Bill Golden, Burke W. Griggs, Stephen Lauer, Chung-Yi Lin, Landon T. Marston, Matthew R. Sanderson, Steven M. Smith, Donald O. Whittemore, Blake B. Wilson, David J. Yu, Qiuyun C. Yu and James J. Butler
Additional contact information
Maria Elena Orduña Alegría: University of Kansas
Sam Zipper: University of Kansas
Hoon C. Shin: Purdue University
Jillian M. Deines: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Jonah J. Allen: Colorado School of Mines
Geoffrey C. Bohling: University of Kansas
Bill Golden: Kansas State University
Burke W. Griggs: Washburn University School of Law
Stephen Lauer: Colorado State University
Chung-Yi Lin: Virginia Tech
Landon T. Marston: Virginia Tech
Matthew R. Sanderson: Kansas State University
Steven M. Smith: Colorado School of Mines
Donald O. Whittemore: University of Kansas
Blake B. Wilson: University of Kansas
David J. Yu: Purdue University
Qiuyun C. Yu: Virginia Tech
James J. Butler: University of Kansas

Nature Sustainability, 2024, vol. 7, issue 12, 1574-1583

Abstract: Abstract Aquifer depletion due to intensive irrigation threatens global economies, food security and ecosystems. This Perspective examines the hydrological, social and economic complexities of managing groundwater resources, focusing on the Sheridan 6 Local Enhanced Management Area in the US High Plains aquifer. Here irrigator-led conservation efforts reduced groundwater use by 25% and slowed aquifer depletion by 65% while maintaining farmers’ incomes. This success resulted from a hybrid integration of bottom-up rule development with top-down enforcement, providing flexible multi-year water allocations and aligning management with local conditions. From this, we identify transferable governance tenets for sustainable groundwater management in similar regions.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01437-0

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