Water-Level Changes in the High Plains Aquifer--Predevelopment to 1990

By Jack T. Dugan and Donald E. Schild

U.S. Geological Survey
Water-Resources Investigations Report 91-4165
Lincoln, Nebraska
1992

Abstract:

Water levels were either stable or rising in the remainder of the High Plains. Large areas in Texas and eastern Nebraska had rises of more than 7.5 feet. The average area-weighted water-level change from 1980 to 1990 was -1.04 feet compared to -9.9 feet from predevelopment to 1980. This relatively small decline since 1980, in relation to the declines prior to 1980, was associated with a decrease in ground-water application for irrigated agriculture and above-normal precipitation throughout the High Plains from 1981 through 1989.

Water-level changes across the High Plains from 1989 to 1990 were a continuation of the variability observed in previous years; however, areas of declines were more prevalent than areas of rise. Declines throughout much of the Northern High Plains were associated with well below-normal precipitation in that area during 1989. Declines also continued throughout much of the intensely developed irrigation areas of the Texas High Plains. Rises associated with above-normal precipitation during 1989, however, occurred in parts of southwestern Kansas where significant long-term declines had occurred. The average area-weighted change from 1989 to 1990 in the High Plains was -0.63 foot, largely attributable to declines in Nebraska and Texas.

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