However, the data collected in more recent years is not without hope, according to Kay Ledbetter of AgriLife Today.

Although there have been previous studies on groundwater levels in Texas, this looked at the entire state instead of being aquifer-specific. Doing so gave researchers a statewide panoramic view, enabling them to see special patterns. By gathering and processing this information, researchers will be able to identify and develop programs to deal with problem areas.

Over eight decades, the statewide decadal median water level had declined from 46 feet to 118 feet. Researchers found that 13 counties now have deeper median water levels with a water level depth below 328 feet as opposed to 1930 when there were only two. The number of counties with a shallower median water level or groundwater within 82 feet of the ground’s surface decreased from 134 counties in 1930 to 113 in 2010.

On a brighter note, recent water conservation efforts and regulatory strategies appear to be causing a leveling off of Texas’s groundwater table. This is welcome news for Texans. The state’s current projection is that by 2060 their water supply will decrease by 10 percent, but their population will double.

Researchers feel that additional studies on this topic are necessary for several reasons, one of which is the variation in the pattern of recovery for ambient water levels. They also see a need for research on aquifer-specific influences and the climate. Studies such as this can show trends in the water level and give details that can aid in better water management. Other states experiencing comparable eco-hydrologic issues may want to consider conducting similar studies in their state.

—Summarized by Progressive Forage Grower staff from cited sources