July 2025 issue

Volume 70, Issue 7

• The Ogallala Aquifer is a vital water source for agriculture and drinking across the High Plains. Historical agricultural practices—combined with slow regeneration—are rapidly depleting groundwater across the region.
   

• Some High Plains states are trying to slow down groundwater depletion by reducing water use across the Ogallala. One such program, named Local Enhanced Management Areas, or LEMAs, is catching the eye of water managers across the region for its uniquely local approach to water conservation.
   

• While LEMAs have shown promise in stabilizing water use in some Kansas regions, broader adoption across the High Plains faces legal, cultural, and climatic challenges, highlighting the need for adaptable, community-driven water policies.
   

Cover photo courtesy of Flickr/K-State Research and Extension. Published under this license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en