Introduction: The Dust Bowl was one of the worst man-made ecological disasters i

Introduction: The Dust Bowl was one of the worst man-made ecological disasters in American history when a grassland ecology that took thousands of years to develop was overturned in less than fifty. The result was a devastation of the land and economic ruin for thousands of farmers. But the Great Plains recovered, thanks mostly to better farming methods, advancing technology, and a new source of water, the Ogallala Aquifer. But now, it seems, the same mistakes are being made and this once seemingly inexhaustible source for water is rapidly being depleted. In addition, studies show that it is being polluted by water runoff carrying pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides. The Keystone Pipeline also poses a potential threat of leaking oil seeping into the aquifer the same way surface water replenishes it.
1. Problem –posing, Problem Solving Essay – In this essay you will examine some of the issues that caused the Dust Bowl disaster, detailing this historical event, the Great Depression and the government policies that the Roosevelt Administration put in place to address the crisis. That said, the focus of this paper is the solution to the Dust Storms – an underground water reservoir called the Ogallala Aquifer. Among the above stated areas to address, you will write in detail about what would happen should the water system dry up or become polluted by other environmental conditions or disasters.
View The Dust Bowl documentaries on Youtube,. Ken Burn’s last segment of THE DUST BOWL entitled “The Western Gate” is especially insightful. Identify parallels between the development of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s and the potential for a similar occurrence if the Ogallala Aquifer were to run dry or be rendered useless. Information can be found at High Plains Underground water Conservation District (www.hpwd.com/aquifers/ogallala-aquifer), North Plains Water District (www.npwd.org/new_page_2.htm) and this article from Scientific American magazine (lanbob.com/lanbob/H-Future/Ogallala.htm).
In this essay you should formulate a policy for managing the Ogallala Aquifer. Provide an analysis of the Great Plains (a brief history of farming methods before and during the Dust Bowl ) – problems and solutions; description of the current conditions and concerns surrounding the Ogallala Aquifer. Are there any parallels with farming methods during the 1930s and today? What recommendations for changes in agricultural practices would reduce the risk of or prevent potential problems like another Dust Bowl?
7-8 pages (add page for citations).