Altitude and configuration of the water table in the High Plains regional aquifer system of Kansas, 1975
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Marilyn E. Pabst
Publications and source records attributed to Marilyn E. Pabst.
Altitude and configuration of the water table in the High Plains Aquifer in Kansas, 1960
The High Plains aquifer in Kansas is part of a regional aquifer system that extends into Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. The aquifer in Kansas underlies an area of 31,000 square miles in the western and south-central part of the State. The aquifer is a hydraulically connected assemblage of unconsolidated water-bearing deposits. In western Kansas, the High Plains aquifer consists principally of the Ogallala Formation of the late Tertiary age and the overlying deposits of Quaternary age. In south-central Kansas, the aquifer consists of unconsolidated deposits principally of Quaternary age. Valley alluvium of Quaternary age also is included in the deposits in both areas. The High Plains aquifer is delimited on the east by outcrops of Permian or Cretaceous rocks and by unsaturated deposits of Quaternary age. The altitude and configuration of the water table during 1960 are shown for the High Plains aquifer in Kansas. The water table sloped generally from west to east at an average rate of 10 feet per mile. The altitude of the water table ranged from about 3,900 feet in the southwest corner of Sherman County, northwestern Kansas, to about 1,350 feet in northern Sedgwick County, southcentral Kansas. Groundwater moves perpendicular to the water table contours from higher altitudes in the western part of the High Plains to lower altitudes in the east. Contours that cross stream valleys without flexure may indicate that the water table was below the streambed. Upstream flexure of water table contours along streams indicates that groundwater flowed toward, and discharged into, streams. This is most evident along the South Fork Republican River in Cheyenne County, Northwestern Kansas, and the South Fork Ninnescah River in Pratt and Kingman Counties, south-central Kansas. (USGS)
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Altitude and configuration of the water table in the High Plains aquifer of Kansas, pre-1950
The High Plains aquifer in Kansas is a part of a regional system that extends from South Dakota to Texas. The aquifer in Kansas underlies an area of 31,000 square miles in the western and south-central part. The aquifer is a hydraulically connected assemblage of unconsolidated water-bearing deposits of Tertiary and Quaternary age. Maps at a scale of 1:500,000 show the altitude and configuration of the water table in Kansas prior to 1950. The water-table maps depict the water-level surface that was present prior to major development of the High Plains aquifer. Ground water moves from higher altitudes in the western part of the High Plains to lower altitudes in the eastern part at an average slope of 10 feet per mile. The upgradient flexure of water-table contours along some of the valleys indicates that ground water is discharged to the streams in those areas.
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Altitude and configuration of the water table in the High Plains Aquifer in Kansas, 1970
The High Plains aquifer in Kansas is a part of a regional system that extends from South Dakota to Texas. The aquifer in Kansas underlies an area of 31,000 square miles in the western and south-central part. This aquifer is a hydraulically connected assemblage of unconsolidated water-bearing deposits of Tertiary and Quaternary age. Maps published at a scale of 1:500,000 show the altitude and configuration of the water table in Kansas during 1970. Ground water moved from higher altitudes in the western part of the High Plains to lower altitudes in the eastern part under an average gradient of 10 feet per mile. The upgradient flexure of water-table contours along some of the valleys indicates that ground water was discharged to the streams in those areas. (USGS)
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Altitude and configuration of the water table in the High Plains aquifer in Kansas, 1980
The High Plains aquifer in Kansas is a part of a regional system that extends from South Dakota to Texas. The aquifer in Kansas underlies an area of 31,000 square miles in the western and south-central part of the State. This aquifer is a hydraulically connected assemblage of unconsolidated water-bearing deposits of Tertiary and Quaternary age. Maps published at a scale of 1:500 ,000 show the altitude and configuration of the water table in Kansas during 1980. Ground water moves from higher altitudes in the western part of the high Plains to lower altitudes in the eastern part at an average rate of 10 feet per mile. The up-gradient flexure of water-table contours along some of the valleys indicates that ground water discharges to the streams in those areas. (USGS)
Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
Kansas ground-water observation-well network, 1983
The locations of 1,940 selected wells in 72 counties, which comprised the Kansas groundwater observation-well network 1983, are listed. Water level measurements are made in these wells on a continuous, monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Data collected from the observation well network are stored in a computer and have been published in various formats. The observation well network provides a continuing program of collection, analysis, and storage of groundwater level data required to define and describe the groundwater resources of Kansas. Accurate groundwater information is the single most important item for management of the State 's groundwater resource and is required for the application of research to the solution of groundwater related problems. The information provided by the observation well network is needed at all management levels to aid in the evaluation and conservation of groundwater. (Lantz-PTT)
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Percentage change in saturated thickness of the High Plains Aquifer, west-central Kansas, 1950 to average 1980-82
A statistical technique, called kriging, was programmed for a computer to interpolate hydrologic data based on a network of 296 measured values in west-central Kansas and eastern Colorado. The computer program generated estimated values of selected hydrologic data at the center of each 1-mile section in the Western Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 1. This program facilitated contouring of the data that are needed to aid in the management of ground water for irrigation. The kriging technique produced a map that illustrates the percentage change in saturated thickness of the High Plains aquifer from 1950 to average 1980-82 in west-central Kansas. Estimated changes in saturated thickness of the aquifer, as shown on the map, range from about a 50% increase to a 100% decrease. (USGS)
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January 1981 water levels, and data related to water-level changes, western and south-central Kansas
This report provides hydrologic data related to water-level measurements in observation wells in western and south-central Kansas during January 1981. Annual water-level measurements are made by personnel from the Division of Water Resources, Kansas State Board of Agriculture, and from the U.S. Geological Survey . State-agency support for this cooperative program is provided by the Kansas Geological Survey. Water-level measurements are made in mid-winter of each year, mostly in January, to minimize the effect of seasonal pumping. However, a few water-level measurements that are made in mid-winter of some years may reflect either the effects of recent pumping by the observation well or by nearby wells, or the effects of barometric-pressure changes. Thus, a significant change in water-levels for a particular well during a 1-year period may represent only a temporary condition, and any indication of a developing trend should be based on a comparison of changes that occur over a period of several years. Hydrologic data in this report relate water-level changes from: (1) A "base-reference year" ( predevelopment year), (2) a year of abnormally high rainfall and minimum pumpage (1966 or 1974) , and (3) each of seven consecutive years of measurement (1975-81). The "base-reference year" is designated as 1940 for the southwestern area, 1944 for the south-central area, and 1950 for the northwestern and west-central areas (fig. 1). Water levels for the "base-reference year" are established by measurements made during that year and by interpretation of maps showing water-level altitudes. Depth to bedrock, used in computing saturated thickness of water-bearing deposits, are based on driller' s logs, reported depths of wells, and interpretation of maps showing the altitude of the bedrock surface.
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Altitude and configuration of the water table in the High Plains aquifer in Kansas, 1980
The High Plains aquifer in Kansas is part of a regional system that extends into Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. The aquifer in Kansas underlies an area of 31,000 square miles in the western and south-central part of the State. This aquifer is a hydraulically connected assemblage of unconsolidated water-bearing deposits. In western Kansas, the High Plains aquifer consists principally of the Ogallala Formation of late Tertiary age and the overlying deposits of Quaternary age. In south-central Kansas, the aquifer consists of unconsolidated deposits principally of the Quaternary age. Valley alluvium of Quaternary age also is included in the deposits in both areas. The High Plains aquifer is delimited on the east by outcrops of Permian or Cretaceous rocks and by unsaturated deposits of Quaternary age.
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Maps showing saturated thickness, January 1979, and percentage decrease in saturated thickness, 1950-79, of unconsolidated aquifer, west-central Kansas
The principal water-yielding formation (unconsolidated aquifer) supplying water to wells in west-central Kansas is comprised of the Ogallala Formation and undifferentiated Pleistocene deposits. About 1,860 square miles of the area are underlain by sufficient saturated material to supply groundwater for irrigation. Saturated thickness in the area ranges from less than 50 feet to about 270 feet. Thickness of saturated deposits in the unconsolidated aquifer in west-central Kansas has decreased as a result of groundwater withdrawals, principally for irrigation. From 1950 to 1979, the decrease in saturated thickness was negligible in some areas and as much as 80 feet in other areas. The decrease, in a few areas, was nearly an 80% reduction of the initial (1959) saturated thickness.
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January 1979 water levels, and data related to water-level changes, western and south-central Kansas
This report contains hydrologic data on water-level measurements in observation wells in western and south-central Kansas. The measurements were made in mid-winter, mostly in January, when pumping was minimal and water levels had recovered from the effects of pumping during the previous irrigation season. This report also provides basic hydrologic data for relating water-level changes from a "base-reference year" (predevelopment year), a year of abnormally high rainfall and minimum pumpage (1966), and the previous year (1978). The "base-reference year" is designated as 1950 for the northwestern and west-central areas, 1940 for the southwestern area, and 1944 for the south-central area. Water-level data in the south-central area also are compared with data for 1974, which represents the recent period of intensified irrigation-well development. Tables in the report show the depths to water level in 1940, 1944, or 1950 (predevelopment year), 1966, 1974, 1978, and 1979; water-level changes from 1940-79, 1944-79, 1950-79, 1966-79, 1974-79, and 1978-79; and the average annual changes from 1940-79, 1944-79, 1950-79, 1966-79, and 1974-79. Also shown are saturated thicknesses of the deposits in 1940, 1944, or 1950 and in 1979, as well as the percentage change in saturated thickness from 1940-79, 1944-79, or 1950-79. The annual water-level measurements are made by personnel of the Division of Water Resources of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture and of the U.S. Geological Survey. State-agency support for this program is provided through the Kansas Geological Survey. Wells in this report are numbered according to the Bureau of Land Management's system of land subdivision. In this system, the first set of digits of a well number indicates the township; the second set, the range east or west of the sixth principal meridian; and the third set, the section in which the well is situated. The first letter denotes the 160-acre tract within the section; the second, the 40-acre tract; and the third, the 10-acre tract. The letters are designated in a counterclockwise direction beginning in the northeast quadrant. Where there is more than one well in a 10-acre tract, consecutive numbers, beginning with "2", are added in the order in which the data from the wells are collected.
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January 1978 water levels, and data related to water-level changes since 1940 or 1950, western Kansas
This report contains basic data on water-level measurements in observation wells in western Kansas. The measurements were made in mid-winter, mostly in January, when pumping was minimal and water levels had recovered from the effects of pumping during the previous irrigation season. This report also provides basic hydrologic data for relating water-level changes from a "base-reference year" (predevelopment year), a year of abnormally high rainfall and minimum pumpage (1966), and the previous year (1977). The "base-reference year" for the northwestern and west-central areas is designated as 1950; for the southwestern area is designated as 1940; and for the south-central area is not yet designated. Tables in the report show the depths to water level in 1940 or 1950 (predevelopment year), 1966, 1977, and 1978; water-level changes from 194078 or 1950-78, 1966-78 and 1977-78; and the average annual changes from 1940-78 or 1950-78, and from 1966-78. Also shown are saturated thicknesses of the deposits in 1940 or 1950 and in 1978, as well as the change in feet and percentage. The annual water-level measurements are made by personnel of the Division of Water Resources of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture and of the U.S. Geological Survey. State-agency support for this program is provided through the Kansas Geological Survey.
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Map showing saturated thickness of unconsolidated aquifer in southwestern Kansas, January 1978
The principal aquifer in the 13-county area of southwestern Kansas occurs in the heterogeneous, unconsolidated alluvial deposits of Tertiary and Quaternary age. The main body of this ground-water reservoir is designated as the unconsolidated aquifer. The map showing the saturated thickness of deposits in the unconsolidated aquifer was prepared by comparing maps showing the altitude and configuration of the underlying bedrock surface and of the potentiometric (water-level) surface in the unconsolidated aquifer in January 1978. About 75 percent of the area (1,460 square miles), as shown within the aquifer boundaries, is underlain by sufficient saturated material to supply ground water for irrigation. Saturated thicknesses range from less than 50 feet to about 630 feet. In the remainder of the area, except for isolated channels, the saturated material generally is thin and yields little or no water to wells.
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Water-resources reconnaissance of Ness County, west-central Kansas
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January 1977 water levels, and data related to water-level changes since 1950, western Kansas
This report contains basic data on water-level measurements in observation wells in western Kansas. Most of the measurements were made in January 1977; a few were made in December 1976 and in February 1977. The measurements were made in mid-winter when pumping was minimal and water levels had recovered from the effects of pumping during the previous irrigation season. This report also contains basic hydrologic data for 1950-77 that are provided for consideration in relation to the January 1977 water-level measurements. The annual water-level measurements are made by personnel of the Division of Water Resources of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture and of the U.S. Geological Survey. State-agency support for this program is provided through the Kansas Geological Survey. Wells in this report are numbered according to the Bureau of Land Management's system of land subdivision. In this system, the first set of digits of a well number indicates the township; the second set, the range east or west of the sixth prinicipal meridian; and the third set, the section in which the well is situated. The first letter denotes the 160-acre tract, the second, the 40-acre tract, and the third, the 10-acre tract. The letters are designated in a counterclockwise direction beginning in the northeast quarter of the section. Where there is more than one well in a 10-acre tract, consecutive numbers, beginning with "2", are added in the order in which the wells are inventoried.
Kansas↗
Map showing percentage decline in saturated thickness of unconsolidated aquifer, 1950-77, west-central Kansas
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Water development for irrigation in northwestern Kansas
Northwestern Kansas, an area of 8,050 square miles (21,000 square kilometres), is a flat to gently rolling plain that is dissected by the Smoky Hill and Republican Rivers. Loessial soils underlying the plain are ideal for cultivation. The climate is semiarid with the mean annual precipitation ranging from 16 to 21 inches (41 to 53 centimetres). Precipitation occurring mainly as thunderstorms during the 6-month growing season is four to five times less than the potential evaporation. Principal aquifers are the Dakota Formation, which yields a few gallons per minute of water to domestic and stock wells; the Ogallala Formation, which commonly yields 500 to 1,200 gallons per minute (32 to 76 litres per second) to irrigation wells; and the alluvium, which locally yields as much as 1,500 gallons per minute (95 litres per second) to irrigation wells. Irrigation by ground water from wells has developed principally since the early 1950's. Development has increased from about 100 wells irrigating 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares) in 1950 to about 2,200 wells irrigating 300,000 acres (120,000 hectares) in 1972. The rate of withdrawal by irrigation, municipal, and industrial wells in 1972 was about 500,000 acre-feet (620 x 10 6 cubic metres) of water per year, of which about 99 percent was for irrigation. A comparison of water levels measured in 1950 and in 1973 indicates that declines greater than 10 feet (3 metres) are common in much of the area. Declines greater than 30 feet (9 metres) have occurred near Goodland and Colby. The areas of greatest irrigation-well density correspond to the areas of greatest water-level decline. More ground water could be withdrawn annually for irrigation, but additional water-level declines in some areas may make the wells uneconomical to pump. The ground-water reservoir can be managed to prolong the irrigation economy of the area.
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