Water-Level Changes in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2005 and 2003 to 2005
February 15, 2007
The High Plains aquifer underlies 111.4 million acres (174,000 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 extensive ground-water irrigation. This report presents water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer from the time prior to substantial ground-water irrigation development (about 1950) to 2005 and from 2003 to 2005.
Water-level changes from predevelopment to 2005 ranged between a rise of 84 feet and a decline of 277 feet. Area-weighted, average water-level change in the aquifer was a decline of 12.8 feet from predevelopment to 2005, a decline of 0.8 foot from 2003 to 2004, and a decline of 0.2 foot from 2004 to 2005. Total water in storage in the aquifer in 2005 was about 2,925 million acre-feet, which was a decline of about 253 million acre-feet (or 9 percent) since predevelopment.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2007 |
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Title | Water-Level Changes in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2005 and 2003 to 2005 |
DOI | 10.3133/sir20065324 |
Authors | V. L. McGuire |
Publication Type | Report |
Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
Series Title | Scientific Investigations Report |
Series Number | 2006-5324 |
Index ID | sir20065324 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Nebraska Water Science Center |