Water-Level and Recoverable Water in Storage Changes, High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2019 and 2017 to 2019
Links
- Document: Report (3.5 MB pdf) , HTML , XML
- Data Release: USGS data release - Data from maps of water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, predevelopment (about 1950) to 2019 and 2017 to 2019
- NGMDB Index Page: National Geologic Map Database Index Page (html)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The High Plains aquifer underlies 111.8 million acres (about 175,000 square miles) in parts of eight States: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Water-level declines began in parts of the High Plains aquifer soon after the beginning of substantial groundwater irrigation (about 1950). This report presents water-level changes and change in recoverable water in storage in the High Plains aquifer from predevelopment (about 1950) to 2019 and from 2017 to 2019.
Water-level changes from predevelopment to 2019, by well, ranged from a rise of 86 feet to a decline of 265 feet; the range for 99 percent of the wells was from a rise of 42 feet to a decline of 203 feet. Water-level changes from 2017 to 2019, by well, ranged from a rise of 34 feet to a decline of 27 feet; the range for 99 percent of the wells was from a rise of 11 feet to a decline of 11 feet. The area-weighted, average water-level changes in the aquifer were an overall decline of 16.5 feet from predevelopment to 2019 and a rise of 0.1 foot from 2017 to 2019. Recoverable water in storage in the aquifer in 2019 was about 2.91 billion acre-feet, which was a decline of about 286.4 million acre-feet since predevelopment and a rise of 1.6 million acre-feet from 2017 to 2019.
Suggested Citation
McGuire, V.L., and Strauch, K.R., 2024, Water-level and recoverable water in storage changes, High Plains Aquifer, predevelopment to 2019 and 2017 to 2019: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2023–5143, 15 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20235143.
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
Study Area
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Data and Methods
- Water-Level Changes
- Recoverable Water in Storage and Change in Recoverable Water in Storage, from Predevelopment to 2019 and from 2017 to 2019
- Summary
- References Cited
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Water-level and recoverable water in storage changes, High Plains Aquifer, predevelopment to 2019 and 2017 to 2019 |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2023-5143 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20235143 |
| Publication Date | February 13, 2024 |
| Year Published | 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Nebraska Water Science Center |
| Description | Report: vi, 15 p.; Data Release |
| Country | United States |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |