Annotated Bibliography Guidelines: As part of your researched argumentative essay, you must create
an annotated bibliography. Your document must cite and annotate a minimum of four (4) peer-
reviewed and two (2) additional sources as outlined in the assignment. The annotation for each article
should include a summary, an evaluation of the text, and a reflection on its applicability to your own
research.

Annotated Bibliography 3.13 (Document with formatting)

Flavelle, Christopher, et al. “How America’s Diet Is Feeding the Groundwater Crisis.” The New York Times, 25 Dec. 2023, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/24/climate/groundwater-crisis-chicken-cheese.html.

 

“How America’s Diet Is Feeding the Groundwater Crisis” is a New York Times article that discusses how the evolving American diet is contributing to diminishing aquifer levels throughout the continental United States. The article delves into how a greater proportion of the American diet is becoming water intensive foods, like poultry and dairy. It discusses how the proliferation of crops for animal feed contributes to the diminishing aquifer levels. It elaborates by exploring how unsustainable these practices are, as the aquifers that supply these practices supply 90% of all water systems in America. The article further dwells on the shifting agricultural trends and increasing land demands that impair conservation efforts, offering powerful visuals that articulate these new trends. This article utilizes empirical studies to convey ongoing trends in reference to American water usage, and our overreliance on aquifers. It provides statistical analysis on the topics discussed throughout the research paper (American dietary impact, water conservation efforts, etc). This will be the basis of the current groundwater crisis in America, a component part for the greater research paper.

 

Taylor, Charles. “Groundwater-Level Monitoring and the Importance of Long-Term Water-Level Data Circular” 1217. 2001, https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1217/pdf/circular1217.pdf

 

“Groundwater-Level monitoring and the importance of Long-Term Water-Level Data” is a report from the U.S. Department of the Interior that offers a historical backdrop of our current water crisis, and how groundwater management systems are curated and observed. The report is very data driven, and is incredibly dense in nature, and as such offers few conclusions. The report does, however, offer an in depth explanation of how groundwater is stored, utilized, and replenished. The report further details the challenges of groundwater maintenance. The scientific, factual nature of this report aids the greater foundation of my research paper, offering more in-depth explanations of the phenomena leading to groundwater depletion. Although the report is fairly lengthy, certain segments (such as the Innovative and Emerging Applications section) create a historical overview of the topic, allowing me to examine how the perception of groundwater usage has evolved over the last 20 years. This will facilitate a more holistic approach, integrating a historical and scientific framework of analysis into the paper.

 

Konikow, Leonard F., and Eloise Kendy. “Groundwater Depletion: A Global Problem.” Hydrogeology Journal, vol. 13, no. 1, 2005, pp. 317–20, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-004-0411-8.

 

“Groundwater depletion: A global problem” is a Hydrogeology Journal article that details the scope and consequences of global groundwater usage. The article discusses the global usage trends, relaying how groundwater depletion is a truly international issue that will affect communities across the globe. Furthermore, it discusses how aquifers are ecologically connected with their respective ecosystems, complicating observation, and conservation efforts. The article touches on the differences between different groundwater sources, and how the development and proliferation of ready access pumped wells facilitate economic growth alongside environmental consequences (reduced well yields, increased pumping costs, deteriorating water quality, and aforementioned damaging of ecosystems). This article offers objective figures, alongside quantitative analysis of global groundwater trends while specifically denoting problem areas (North Africa, the Middle East, South and Central Asia, North China, North America, and Australia). This article will be the basis for the global usage trends and consequences section of the research paper, as well as acting as a springboard for future, more in depth research regarding different groundwater sources and their respective impact on the crisis.

 

“ENVIRONMENTAL and RESOURCE TRENDS Water Insecurity Threatening Global Economic Growth, Political Stability”. Officer of the Director of National Intelligence, Apr. 2021, www.dni.gov/files/images/globalTrends/GT2040/NIC_2021-02489_Future_of_Water_18nov21_UNSOURCED.pdf.

 

“Water Insecurity Threatening Global Economic Growth, Political Stability” is a report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that explores the geopolitical implications of the decreasing groundwater levels. The report details how specific risk factors like poor governance, resource management alongside development and agriculture practices contribute to the worsening of the groundwater crisis. The report also details the spread of the issue, specifically detailing that while both developing and developed countries are facing this issue, developed economies are much more equipped to address the quandary. The report also outlines how depleting groundwater levels, specifically in aquifers that span across borders may create geopolitical flashpoints and tension. The report details how the international aspect, alongside the pre-established difference between supply and demand, fosters political instability and a further worsening of the problem. The report also discusses some of the pre-established themes like how lifestyle affects groundwater usage, and the current overexploitation and depletion in problem areas. (Middle East, South Asia, Beijing, and Mexico City). This objective report offers a more socio-political lens to view the crisis through, an important aspect for the political implications section of the research paper.

 

Flavelle, Christopher, and Mira Rojanasakul. “Five Takeaways from Our Investigation into America’s Groundwater Crisis.” The New York Times, 29 Aug. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/08/29/climate/groundwater-aquifer-overuse-investigation-takeaways.html.

 

“Five Takeaways From Our Investigation Into America’s Groundwater Crisis” is a New York Times article outlining some of the core takeaways from an extensive investigation into the American Groundwater crisis. The article outlines the findings from an observation of 80,000 groundwater wells throughout the United States and offers poignant conclusions from the study. The study found that over pumping is jeopardizing America’s status as a food superpower, as regional declines in groundwater levels impact crop yields, as well as afflicting individual water consumption (tap water). The article further explores how weak regulatory oversight alongside worsening environmental conditions (due to climate change) foster a precipitous decline in groundwater levels. This article, while short and sweet, provides independently collected data points that can be used for analysis, alongside more instances of the drastic consequences of groundwater depletion in identified problem areas (Maryland, Arkansas, Kansas).