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depletion for the past ten years (1995 to 2005) indicates that more than 8,660,000 acre -feet have been removed from stor- age (decline of 9.62 feet). This equates to a rate of depletion of little more than one -half percent per year. The original basin designation allowed for a depletion of 40 percent in 25 years. This was amended in 1990 to al- low a depletion of 40 percent in 100 years. This figure is somewhat misleading in that some areas in the basin are experiencing much higher rates of depletion due to a lesser saturated thickness and the fact that 2000 to 2003 were ex- tremely dry years. You can order the complete report, Ground Water Levels in the Northern High Plains Designated Groundwater Basin, February 2005, by Michael Schaubs, from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Records Department at 303 - 866 -3447 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. For information about aquifer conditions in other states try these websites: Kansas: http: / /magellan .kgs.ukans.edu /WaterLevels /CD/ index.htm Nebraska: http: / /csd.unl.edu /general/newpub- gwmaps.asp New Mexico: http: / /nm. water .usgs.gov /water_data_QL.htm South Dakota: http: / /sd.water.usgs.gov /public /realtime.html Texas: http: / /tx.usgs.gov/ Wyoming: http: / /waterplan.state.wy.us and http:// wy.water.usgs.gov/data.htm#GroundWater References . (2003). Ground -Water Depletion Across the Na- tion, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 103 -03. Denver, CO: U.S. Geological Survey. McGuire, V. L. (2004). Water -Level Changes in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2003 and 2002 to 2003, U.S. Geologi- cal Survey Fact Sheet 2004 -3097. Denver, CO: U.S. Geological Survey. Schaubs, Michael. (2005). Ground Water Levels in the Northern High Plains Designated Ground Water Basin, February, 2005. Denver, CO: Colorado Division of Water Resources, Department of Natural Resources. Van Slyke, George. (2004). Ground Water levels in the South- ern High Plains Designated Groundwater Basin, October 2004. Denver, CO: Colorado Division of Water Resources, Department of Natural Resources. Yampa / White River Tour Scheduled June 22-24,2005 A tour of the beautiful Yampa and White River Basins, expert speakers discussing the latest issues in regional water management, and networking opportunities are included in the Colorado Foundation for Water Education's second annual professional development river tour. Last year, almost 90 participants (including real estate agents, state legislators, engi- neers, utility employees and county commissioners) from Colorado and the West attended the professional development river tour. The schedule (subject to change) includes: June 22 River restoration on the Lower Elk River Lunch at a local ranch, agricultural flood irrigation Steamboat Springs Whitewater Park Stagecoach Reservoir Hydroelectric Facility June 23 Globally rare riparian forest at the Nature Conservancy's Car- penter Ranch Elkhead Reservoir expansion and endangered fish issues Rafting trip through Juniper Canyon on the Yampa River Local history of the Meeker Valley June 24 Oil and gas issues in the Piceance Basin: tour a drill rig Kenney Reservoir and water quality issues in the White River Visit Dinosaur National Monument Green River /Flaming Gorge Reservoir operations