Abstract
The Ogallala Aquifer has been overused for decades, so alternative water sources, such as the Dakota Aquifer, must be considered to prevent it further declining. However, the Dakota Aquifer is not a feasible alternative in many locations. To evaluate irrigation useability, existing well water data across the geographic region was analyzed. Salinity and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) were considered with existing data on plant salinity tolerance, especially those crops common to Kansas farmers. Results showed that most areas in southern Kansas that had access to the Dakota Aquifer could use it for irrigation, though counties closer to the Kansas-Nebraska state border should abstain due to the salinity of the water in those regions.
Faculty Advisor
Jeanne L Sumrall
Department/Program
Geosciences
Submission Type
in-person poster
Date
4-13-2026
Rights
Copyright the Author(s)
Recommended Citation
Leiker, Alexander D. and Sumrall, Jeanne
(2026)
"Examining the Useability of the Dakota Aquifer in Kansas for Irrigation Regarding Salinity,"
SACAD: Scholarly Activities: Vol. 2026, Article 14.
Available at:
https://scholars.fhsu.edu/sacad/vol2026/iss2026/14
Included in
Environmental Education Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Geology Commons, Sustainability Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
