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receives recharge up to the beginning of the irrigation season and that measuring the wells at the same time each year is critical to obtaining consistent data. Throughout the Northern High Plains, the water levels continue to show the regional decline which is to be expected when water is being "mined". There are localized areas near the basin margins and in area where water use has been curtailed which show rising water levels. The maps contained in the appendices show the relative change in water levels since last year and for the previous five year period. A map showing the overall change for the period of 1965 to 1989 was included in the 1990 report. The average rate of decline for the past year is less than that for the preceding year (0.49 feet during 1995/1996 as compared with 1.30 feet in 1994/1995). This was due to late spring rains in April, May and June and an early frost in September. The well hydrographs contained in Appendix L show representative water level trends in areas throughout the basin. Rates of decline range from local decline of over 23 feet in the W -Y district to slight rises around the periphery of the basin. The greatest overall declines were again in the W -Y district while the wells measured in Washington County and the Arikaree District actually show an overall rise. Based on previous work, the overall decline of 0.49 feet equals approximately 435,000 acre-feet which have been removed from storage. DEPLETIDN STUDY In 1990, George VanSlyke and Steven Joliat of the State Engineer's Office prepared a comprehensive report for the Northern High Plains (Depletion to the Ogallala Aquifer, Northern High Plains Designated Ground Water Basin, August, 1990) which details the depletion to the Ogallala Aquifer from 1965 to 1989. The results of this study were presented to the Colorado Ground Water Commission at the August 1990 meeting in Colorado Springs. Copies of this report can be obtained from the Office of the State Engineer for a cost of $20.00.