Photo in the News: Texas Goes Green After Record Rainfall

National Geographic ^ | 7-10-2007 | Christine Dell'Amore

[ValerieTexas]

My parents live in Kingman. I’m hoping to go visit in August.

[Arizona Carolyn]

We still need rain... even in the Desert....

[Cyman]

Are there any water experts out there that could tell us if this rain had any effect on the Ogallala aquifer?

[Stegall Tx]

I’m no expert, but I’ve looked around and can’t find anything that says anything except, “RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! THE AQUIFER IS DEPLETING!”

At the farm (west of Lubbock), it was 125 feet down to the water table and 200 to the bottom when we drilled a well in 1997. Short of taking a line to the well, I don’t know of any way to find the current measurements. Nor can I find any place that keeps measurements, though I know they take them. I was approached by the state with a request to take measurements of my well when it was drilled, so someone does it.

I didn’t keep their information, so I don’t know who to contact.

[basil]

Thanks for the great photo of Mansfield with some of the gates open, Valerie! I haven ‘t taken the time to go down there and see it, yet. I wonder how long it’s been since water was last flowing out of those gates....,,