In the high plains of western Kansas, where water is a precious and dwindling resource, Joe Zellner Jr. has made a bold and deliberate decision: he shut off all irrigation wells on his deeded land.
Zellner, a Wichita County farmer, once fully embraced irrigation. But over time, he began to witness firsthand the toll it was taking on the Ogallala Aquifer.
“I really embraced irrigation in the 70s,” Zellner said. “But as the years went by, the wells diminished. We kept pulling more water out, and the water table just kept dropping.”
His concerns about long-term water availability — especially drinking water — motivated him to change course. With rising fuel and labor costs making some of his smaller wells economically unviable, Zellner saw an opportunity to take a stand for conservation. He began shutting them off one by one.
“Eventually, I just shut them all off,” he said. “Now I irrigate with just one well — which is on the land that I rent.”
Zellner’s decision didn’t stop with irrigation. He also enrolled his playas — shallow, rain-fed recharge wetlands — in conservation programs. The process, he said, started with attending a few informational meetings.
“I learned that water flowing into playas can help recharge the water table,” he said. “And to be honest, those areas never produced much anyway. Most years, you didn’t get anything out of them.”
That realization helped Zellner see the value of his land’s natural features. Playas are vital, temporary wetlands that provide important habitat for wildlife and are a primary source of recharge to the Ogallala Aquifer, a critical water source for western Kansas. These shallow, clay-lined depressions collect runoff from the surrounding area, filtering out contaminants and directing water underground.
By restoring his playas and planting a native grass buffer around them, Zellner reduced erosion, improved wildlife habitat, and removed the need to continually fight muddy or unproductive patches in his fields.
“We don’t farm through them anymore,” he said. “And with grass buffers around the playas, there’s less risk of topsoil washing in. That keeps the playas intact, and it helps control erosion — even with no-till farming.”
While some farmers worry about lost production, Zellner sees it differently.
“I was probably losing money farming them,” he said. “You’re putting seed, chemical, fertilizer into the ground that hardly returns anything. Economically, it just doesn’t make sense.”
The bigger reward for Zellner, though, has been knowing that his land stewardship may benefit future generations.
“In western Kansas, moisture is always a concern,” he said. “But I believe conservation practices — not just no-till, but protecting playas — will increase the value of our land. In the long run, the land that’s cared for will be worth more.”
He acknowledges that some landowners may still have doubts.
“People think it’ll just become a weed patch, but that’s not true,” Zellner said. “Once the grass is established, it’s better for the environment, and you don’t have to fight it every year.”
Looking ahead, he’s optimistic about the direction of his operation and the future of the land.
“I think yields will keep going up, and we’re saving topsoil, saving moisture,” he said. “With better conservation practices, your profit could actually be more.”
His advice to other producers?
“Don’t worry about losing production ground,” he said. “It’s probably not productive anyway. You’ll save on inputs, and you’ll help protect the resource we all depend on — water.”
He also points out that the greatest impact to the aquifer comes from reduced water usage. Healthy playas can contribute significantly to water conservation efforts, with an average recharge rate of about three inches per year, but reducing pumping is a key part of the equation. By integrating irrigation reduction and playa conservation efforts, we can move toward a more stable aquifer, supporting the long-term needs of communities and rain-fed operations.
Learn how playas play a vital role in recharging the Ogallala Aquifer and how Kansas landowners like Joe Zellner are making a difference. To discuss programs and options that can help meet your conservation objectives, contact PLJV Conservation Outreach Specialist Titus Jaeger at 620-272-2828 or Ducks Unlimited Biologist Abe Lollar at 620-214-2693.