The relation of the drought of 1934 to ground‐water supplies in the James and Sheyenne River‐Basins of North And South Dakota

The water‐shortage caused by the drought of 1934 in the Middle West drew nation‐wide attention to the lack of adequate information on the relation of precipitation to water‐supplies. The shortage was especially severe in the Dakotas because precipitation had been below normal in North Dakota since 1930 and in South Dakota since 1931. Many wells and springs failed, numerous streams ceased to flow, and levels of water in lakes and ponds declined until some of them became completely dry. Many of the inhabitants felt great concern lest the water‐supplies of the area had been permanently depleted.