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'_' I WATER-LEVEL RECORDS FOR THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS OF COLORADO, 1977-81 ! By Ronald G. Borman and Thomas S. Meredith ABSTRACT Water-level measurements were made in 661 wel Is in the winter of 1980-81 in the northern High Plains of Colorado. Measurements for the winter of 1980-81 and the four preceding winters are given in a table. iNTRODUCTION The northern High Plains of Colorado is an area of about 9,500 mi2 in the eastern part of the State (fig. 1). The boundaries of the"High Plains of ColoradO are the State I ine, and the limit of the Ogallala Formation of late Tertiary age. The Ogallala Formation is an unconsolidated or part1y consolidated deposit of gravel, sand, clay, and silt, and is the major aquifer in the northern Hig~ Plains. Water levels in much of the Ogallala Formation have been declining because ground-water pumping for irrigation is removing ground water from storage. Knowl~ edge of the amount and extent of water-level decl ines is necessary for management of the ground-water resource. Water-level records for the northern High Plains of Colorado are collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Natural' Resources, Division .of Water Resources, Office of the State Engineer; and the Central Yuma, Frenchman, Marks Butte, and Sand Hills Ground Water Management Dis~ tricts. Measurem~nts are generally made once a year, in the winter, when water levels have recovered from pumping during the previous irrigation season, to de~ termine the effects of the pumping on the amount of ground water in storage. Water-level measurements were made in 661 wells in the winter of 1980-81. Most of these wells were irrigation wells, but several stock and government-owned observation wells also were measured, especially in areas where there is little irrigation. Water-level measurements (table 1 at back of report) for the years 1977 to 1981 are shown by county. .~~~-. i~'