Groundwater underpins much of the breadbasket in the middle of the United States.
The Oglala Aquifer begins in South Central South Dakota and extends underground all the way into the state of Texas. The aquifer is a key source for irrigation… it was tapped only after the dust bowl ravaged this part of the country – but today, parts of the Oglala are under risk of going dry, other parts could become contaminated.
SDPB’s Charles Michael Ray recently caught up with a groundwater expert to talk about the Oglala Aquifer. Dr. William Alley, is the former chief of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Office of groundwater. Today Alley is director of science and technology for the National Ground Water Association.
He was a keynote speaker at the Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference this year. Allie’s speech was titled - "Challenges in Groundwater Assessment for Agriculture and Energy Development." Dr. Allie took part in this interview after that speech.