Sustainable Irrigation and Climate Adaptation in Southern High Plains: A Satellite-Enabled and Peer-Led Model (USDA – Sustainable Agriculture Systems)

Declines of the Ogallala-High Plains Aquifer have been particularly severe in the Southern Great Plains (SGP) region where thousands of acres of irrigated cropland have been lost from production. Droughts and heat stress across the region will intensify over the next 50 years, ramping up pressure on an already strained aquifer system. The transition from fully irrigated production to water wise systems presents significant biophysical, sociological, and economic impacts for the region. To address these challenges, we apply an integrated approach of research with collaborators across the region. OpenET, a satellite-based evapotranspiration (ET) modeling, data visualization, and access tool can play a crucial role in enabling innovative approaches to irrigation planning and scheduling decisions by producers, and identifying areas of differential irrigation efficiency, using both field-scale and historical data. By collaborating with stakeholders to improve and use these tools in new ways, the project will address the socio-economic challenges of increasing water use efficiency and reducing water use to levels needed to stabilize aquifer levels.