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o '.:.l N W CD -.1 Groundwater - The major aquifers of the region are the alluvium and terrace deposits adjacent to the North Canadian River; the Ogallala formation in Beaver, Cimarron and Texas Counties; and the Dakota and Cheyenne sandstones in western Cimarron County. Development and Utilization - As a result of the lack of de- veloped surface water supplies, groundwater usage has intensified and is utilized to a great extent. Evolution of irrigation began in the 1930's with fewer than 30 wells. Augmentation of irriga- tion wells continued at a slow rate until the year 1964. In 1960, 400 wells in the Panhandle provided, water to irrigate an estimated 80,000 acres; by 1965 the number had more than doubled with about 975 wells irrigating 220,000 acres. In 1971 there were 1,846 wells irrigat!ng 344.g~0 acres. Today, approximately 2,~00 high capacity wells are irrigating over 400,000 acres and, this development is continuing to increase each year. 90% of the municipal and industrial supplies and 80% of the irrigation supplies are pres- ently being taken from groundwater sources. Wells that are closely spaced and pumped for periods of time at high rates (irrigation wells) create a cone of depression around the pumped wells. As these extend outward, they overlap each other and reduce the quantity of wster available to both wells. This situation has become fairly common in heavily developed areas. The greatest concentration of high capacity occurs in the areas south of Guymon, north of Goodwell, and in the northwestern part of Texas county. The policies concerning and administration of groundwater in Oklahoma is vested in the Oklahoma Water Resources Board under authority of Title 82 of the Oklahoma State Statutes. The Oklahoma groundwater law was adopted on August 26, 1949, with an effective date of July 1, 1973. Vested rights were granted to those individuals and entities who had utilized groundwater for beneficial uses prior to the effective date of the Oklahoma ground- water law. Groundwater usage is granted to any landowner for domestic usage without a permit. Usage greater than domestic needa is appropriated and regulated through groundwater permits. To conserve and protect the groundwater resources of the state and to provide reasonable regulations for the taking and use of groundwater are duties and responsibilities of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Due to large scale groundwater mining practices, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, when reasoned necessary and in the public's interest, can initiate the designation of critical groundwater areas. After surveys have been completed of the designated critical areas, adjudication of rights is permitted to insure the protection of designated critical areas. 113 I I .---- I I I I I I I I I I I I I' I I I I