KU News Release

Kansas Geological Survey to measure water wells in western part of state

LAWRENCE — Water specialists from the Kansas Geological Survey at the University of Kansas will work their way across the western part of the state next month to find out what effect this year’s weather has had on area water wells.

Staff members will measure water levels in more than 500 wells in western Kansas beginning Jan. 3.

The measurements will be made in cooperation with the Division of Water Resources of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, which measures an additional 900 wells. Together the geological survey and the water resources division measure wells in 47 counties in south-central and western Kansas.

Water managers and agencies use the results to monitor and interpret trends in groundwater levels in Kansas. Private landowners and businesses also rely on the information in making water-related decisions. Most of the measured wells are used for irrigation and tap into the High Plains aquifer, which includes the well-known Ogallala aquifer. The High Plains aquifer underlies much of western and south-central Kansas.

The wells are generally measured in January, after the end of the irrigation season.

“To produce consistent data, we measure the same wells at about the same time each year using the same proven methods,” said Brownie Wilson, water-data manager for the geological survey and one of the staff members measuring wells this year.

Weather permitting, survey crews will begin measurements in areas around Colby and St. Francis on Jan. 3 and 4, then move south, working in the Syracuse area Jan. 5 and around Hugoton on Jan. 6. They will complete measurements around Liberal on Jan. 7, depending on weather and road conditions.

Last year’s measurements showed that average water levels dropped about 1 foot in southwestern Kansas, 0.7 feet in northwestern Kansas and about 0.3 feet in west-central Kansas from January 2005 to January 2006.

For the five-year period from 2001 to 2006, when much of Kansas experienced drought conditions, levels dropped about 8 feet in southwestern Kansas, 4 feet in northwestern Kansas and 3.6 feet in west-central Kansas. Below-average precipitation leads to increased groundwater pumping, which in turn leads to greater water-level declines.

“We appreciate the landowners and farmers who participate in this program by allowing us access to their property and wells,” said Brett Wedel, manager of the geological survey’s measurement program. “Without them, this program could not be successful.”

Measurements of individual wells made in January 2006, as well as historical measurement data, are available at the geological survey’s Web site. Results of measurements made in January 2007 will be available at the same site in late February. Other information about the state’s groundwater is available from the geological survey’s Web site. This includes a new site dedicated to water rights information.

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