for instance it is considered a major and growing issue in western galilee in israel and laguna region in mexico oecd questionnaire as a result of sustained groundwater pumping saturated thicknesses and well yields can be reduced significantly in some cases reductions in aquifer viability have been severe enough that there has been a gradual transition from irrigated back to dryland agriculture eg parts of western kansas in the united states in other areas such as north texas irrigation is still possible but it is clear that the current intensity in terms of irrigated area and application rates cannot be maintained in the future