Laserfiche WebLink
<br />-r.,~ ~; 1'"::- ~ '\ <br /> <br />WATER-LEVEL RECORDS FOR THE <br />NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS OF COLORADO, 1978-82 <br /> <br />By Joe L. Blattner and Bruce D. Rasmuson <br /> <br />ABSTRACT <br /> <br />Water-level measurements were made in 674 wells in the winter of 1981-82 ih <br />the northern High Plains of Colorado. Water-level measurements for the winter of <br />1981-82 and the four preceding winters are given in a table; this table also 1 ists <br />the location, depth, land-surface elevation, and the aquifer of each well. <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />The northern High Plains of Colorado is an area of about 9,500 mi2 in the <br />eastern part of the State (fig. 1). The boundaries of the High Plains of Colorado <br />are the State line and the limit of the Ogallala Formation of late Tertiary age; <br />The Ogallala Formation is an unconsolidated 0' partly consolidated deposit of <br />gravel, sand, clay, and silt, and is the major aquifer in the northern High <br />Plains. <br /> <br />Water levels in much of the Ogallala Formation have been declining because <br />ground-water pumping for irrigation is removing ground water from storage. Knowl~ <br />edge of the amount and extent of water-level declines is necessary for management <br />of the ground-water resource. <br /> <br />Water-level records for the northern High Plains of Colorado are collected by <br />the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Natural <br />Resources, Division of Water Resources, Office of the State Engineer; and the Cen- <br />tral Yuma County, Frenchman, Marks Butte, and Sand Hil Is Ground Water Management <br />Districts. Measurements are generally made once a year, in the winter, when water <br />levels have recovered from pumping during the previous irrigation season, to de- <br />termine the effects of the pumping on the amount of ground water in storage. <br /> <br />Water-level measurements were made in 674 wells in the winter of 1981-82. <br />Most of these wells were irrigation wells, but several stock and government-owned <br />observation wel:ls also were measured, especially in areas where there is 1 ittle <br />irrigation. Water-level measu,ements (table 1) for the years 1978 to 1982 are <br />shown by county. <br /> <br />i ~ <br /> <br />ii. c d..'" ~. <br /> <br />-li~~j <br />