"Authorities said it is needed because the main aquifer beneath eastern Arkansas's soybean, cotton and rice fields is running out of water and could run out by 2015, causing economic hardship."
This is an aquifer, not an oil field. Is it really running out of water, or are they over taxing it by allowing too much farming?
That is my question too.
I wonder if water conservation or other ideas were implemented before the government spent taxpayer money on an irrigation project ?