The moderate and somewhat erratic rainfall is the major source of water for pasture and crops. Large reservoirs provide water for cities and towns and for recreation. Farm ponds are a major source of water for livestock. In most of the area, shallow wells supply water for domestic use. A few small irrigation wells supply a very limited quantity of water.
Local streams have intermittent flow.
Most of the soils are Ustalfs. They are well drained and medium textured and coarse textured. These soils have a thermic temperature regime, an ustic moisture regime, and mixed, siliceous, or montmorillonitic mineralogy. Little bluestem, purpletop tridens, indiangrass, switchgrass, big bluestem, post oak, blackjack oak, elm, coralberry, American beautyberry, bumelia, greenbrier, and elbowbush are some of the dominant species. Engelmann-daisy, lespedezas, and trailing wildbeans are among the numerous perennial forbs.