The Ogallala
The coarse, porous sedimentary units of the Ogallala Formation comprise the Ogallala Aquifer, which has historically functioned as a major source of drinking water for much of the High Plains. The Ogallala Aquifer is a shallow water aquifer surrounded by sand and gravel located beneath the Great Plains in the United States. Today about 27% of the irrigated land in the entire United States lies over the aquifer, which yields about 30% of the ground water used for irrigation in the United States. Since 1950, agricultural irrigation has reduced the saturated volume of the aquifer by an estimated 9%.
Headward erosion is erosion at the origin of a stream channel, which causes the origin to move back away from the direction of the stream flow, and so causes the stream channel to lengthen. It can also refer to widening of a canyon by erosion along its very top edge. This either causes the stream to grow longer at the very top of the stream or causes the canyon formed by the stream to grow wider. Headward erosion is a fluvial process of erosion that lengthens a stream, a valley or a gully at its head and also enlarges its drainage basin. The stream erodes away at the rock and soil at its headwaters in the opposite direction that it flows.
How to Qualify
Question 1: At the top of the cliff, describe the rocks and soil. Be sure to specify rock composition?
Question 2: Are these the same rocks as the ones seen further down? If not, what are the likely rock composition of the lower cliff?
Question 3: What evidence do you have that these region was part of an old aquifer?
Question 4: Describe the erosive forces on the cliff sides.
Question 5 (Optional): Take some nice pictures with some beautiful views!
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