How Kansas could lose billions in land values as its underground water runs dry

The water in the Ogallala aquifer is worth billions of dollars to western Kansas, but it’s rapidly disappearing. And it's been a challenge to find ways to slow the depletion.
HAYS, Kansas — In increasingly dry western Kansas, underground water makes everything possible. Irrigation for crops. Stock water for cattle. Drinking water for towns.

In all, the Ogallala Aquifer provides 70-80% of water used by Kansans each day.

So how much is all that water worth?

A recent study from Kansas State University says the aquifer under western Kansas increases land values by nearly $4 billion.

But those billions are drying up at an accelerating rate.