HPGW Fact Sheets

HPGW USGS Reports

HPGW Journal Article Abstracts

HPGW Published Meeting Abstracts

HPGW Other Published Material

HPGW Meeting Posters

HPGW Fact Sheets

• Dennehy, K.F., 2000, High Plains regional ground-water study: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-091-00, 6 p.

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• McMahon, P.B., 2000, A reconnaissance study of the effect of irrigated agriculture on water quality in the Ogallala Formation, central High Plains aquifer: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-009-00, 6 p.

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• Qi, S.L., 2000, High plains regional ground-water study Web site: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-049-00, 2 p.

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HPGW USGS Reports

• Gurdak, J.J., McMahon, P.B., Dennehy, K.F., and Qi, S.L., (2009), Water quality in the High Plains aquifer, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, 1999–2004: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1337, 63 p.

  Report

• Landon, M.K., Clark, B.R., McMahon, P.B. McGuire, V.L., and Turco, M.J., (2008), Hydrogeology, Chemical Characteristics, and Transport Processes in the Zone of Contribution of a Public-Supply Well in York, Nebraska: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5050, 35 p.

  Report

• McMahon, P.B., Dennehy, K.F., Bruce, B.W., Gurdak, J.J., and Qi, S.L., (2007), Water-quality assessment of the High Plains aquifer, 1999-2004: U.S. Geological Survery Professional Paper 1749, 136 p.

  Report

• McMahon, P.B., J.K. Böhlke, and C.P. Carney, (2007), Vertical gradients in water chemistry and age in the northern High Plains aquifer, Nebraska, 2003: U.S. Geological Survery Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5294, 35 p.

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• Stanton, J.S., and Qi, S.L., (2006), Ground-water quality of the northern High Plains aquifer, 1997, 2002–04: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5138, 59 p.

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• Stanton, J.S., and Fahlquist, Lynne, (2006), Ground-water quality beneath irrigated cropland of the northern and southern High Plains aquifer, Nebraska and Texas, 2003-04: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5196, 39 p., appendixes on compact disk.

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• Qi, S.L., and Gurdak, J.J., 2006, Percentage of probability of nonpoint-source nitrate contamination of recently recharged ground water in the High Plains aquifer: USGS Data Series DS-192 (GIS dataset).

• Gurdak, J.J., and Qi, S.L., 2006, Vulnerability of Recently Recharged Ground Water in the High Plains Aquifer to Nitrate Contamination: USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5050, 39 p.

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• P.B. McMahon, J.K. Böhlke, and T.M. Lehman, 2004, Vertical gradients in water chemistry and age in the southern High Plains aquifer, Texas, 2002 : USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5053, 53 p., 13 figs.

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• Bruce, Breton W., Becker, Mark F., Pope, Larry M., and Gurdak, Jason J., 2003, Ground-Water Quality Beneath Irrigated Agriculture in the Central High Plains Aquifer, 1999–2000: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4219, 39 p.

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• Fahlquist, Lynne, 2003, Ground-water quality of the southern High Plains aquifer, Texas and New Mexico, 2001: U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report 03-345, 59 p.

  PDF (36 MB)

• McMahon, P.B., Dennehy, K.F., Michel, R.L., Sophocleous, M.A., Ellett, K.M., and Hurlbut, D.B., 2003, Water movement through thick unsaturated zones overlying the Central High Plains aquifer, southwestern Kansas, 2000–2001: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report, 03-4171, 35 pp.

  PDF (1.5 MB)

• Qi, Sharon L., Konduris, Alexandria, Litke, David W., and Dupree, Jean, 2002, Classification of irrigated land using satellite imagery, the High Plains aquifer, nominal date 1992: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report, 02-4236, 35 pp.

  PDF (7.7 MB)

• Qi, Sharon L., Konduris, Alexandria, Litke, David W., and Dupree, Jean, 2002, HPIRRLND_92--Location of irrigated land classified from satellite imagery-High Plains area, nominal date 1992: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02_441 (GIS dataset).

• Pope, Larry M., Bruce, Breton W., Rasmussen, Patrick P., and Milligan, Chad R., 2002, Quality of shallow ground water in areas of recent residential and commercial development, Wichita, Kansas, 2000: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report, 02-4228, 75 pp.

  PDF (17.1 MB) | HTML

• Becker, Mark F., Bruce, Breton W., Pope, Larry M., and Andrews, William J., 2002, Ground-Water Quality in the Central High Plains Aquifer, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report, 02-4112, 64 pp.

  PDF (2.5 MB)

• Litke, D.W., 2001, Historical water-quality data for the High Plains Regional Ground-Water study area in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, 1930-98: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report, 00-4254, 65 pp.

  PDF (6.2 MB)

  NOTE: this is only the text, if you would like a copy of the report that contains the CD with the data base you must contact the U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, telephone (303)202-4610

• McMahon, P.B., 2001, Vertical gradients in water chemistry in the central High Plains aquifer, southwestern Kansas and Oklahoma Panhandle, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report, 01-4028, 35 pp.

  PDF (.75 MB)

• Pope, L.M., Bruce, B.W., and Hansen, C.V., 2001, Ground-water quality in quaternary deposits of the central High Plains aquifer, south-central Kansas, 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report, 00-4259, 44 pp.

  HTML | PDF (2.0 MB)

• Torres, J.M., Litke, D.W., and Qi, S.L., 1999, HPBEDROCK--bedrock formations underlying the High Plains aquifer: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-214 (GIS dataset).

HPGW Journal Article Abstracts

• Gurdak, J.J., Walvoord, M.A., and McMahon, P.B., (2008), Susceptibility to enhanced chemical migration from depression-focused preferential flow, High Plains aquifer, Vadose Zone Journal 7(4), 1172-1184, doi: 10.2136/vzj2007.0145.

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• Gurdak, J.J., Hanson, R.T., McMahon, P.B., Bruce, B.W., McCray, J.E., Thyne, G.D., and Reedy, R.C., (2007), Climate variability controls on unsaturated water and chemical movement, High Plains aquifer, United States, Vadose Zone Journal 6(2), 533-547, doi: 10.2136/vzj/2006.0087.

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• Gurdak, J.J., McCray, J.E., Thyne, G.D., and Qi, S.L., (2007), Latin-hypercube approach to estimate uncertainty in ground-water vulnerability, Ground Water, 45, 3, 348-361, doi: 10.1111/j.1745-6584.2006.00298.x.

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• Rajagopalan, S., Anderson, T.A., Fahlquist, L., Rainwater, K.A., Ridley, M., and Jackson, W.A. 2006, Widespread presence of naturally occurring perchlorate in High Plains of Texas and New Mexico: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 40, no. 10, pp. 3156-3162.

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• McMahon, P.B., and Böhlke, 2006, Regional patterns in the isotopic composition of natural and anthropogenic nitrate in ground water, High Plains, USA: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 40, no. 9, pp 2965 - 2970.

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• McMahon, P.B., Dennehy, K.F., Bruce, B.W., Böhlke, J.K., Michel, R.L., Gurdak, J.J., and Hurlbut, D.A., 2006, Storage and transit time of chemicals in thick unsaturated zones under rangeland and irrigated cropland, High Plains, USA: Water Resources Research, 42, W03413, doi:10.1029/2005WR004417.

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• Scanlon, B.R., R.C. Reedy, D.A. Stonestrom, D.E. Prudic, and K.F. Dennehy, 2005, Impact of land use and land cover change on groundwater recharge and quality in the southwestern US: Global Change Biology, v. 11, p. 1577-1593.

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• McMahon, P.B., J.K. Böhlke, and S.C. Christenson, 2004, Geochemistry, radiocarbon ages, and paleorecharge conditions along a transect in the central High Plains aquifer, southwestern Kansas, USA : Applied Geochemistry, vol. 19(11), 1655-1686.

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• Walvoord, M. A., F. M. Phillips, D. A. Stonestrom, R. D. Evans, P. C. Hartsough, B. D. Newman, and R. G. Striegl, 2003, A reservoir of nitrate beneath desert soils: Science, v. 302, p. 1021-1024.

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• Dennehy, K.F., Litke, D.W., and McMahon, P.B., 2002, The High Plains aquifer, USA: groundwater development and sustainability : In Hiscock, K.M., Rivett, M.O., and Davison, R.M. (eds.), Sustainable Groundwater Development, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 193, p. 99-119.

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• Bruce, B.W. and Oelsner, G.P., 2001, Contrasting water quality from paired domestic/public supply wells, central High Plains: Journal of the American Water Resources Association, v. 37, No. 5, pp. 1389-1403.

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• McMahon, P.B., B.W. Bruce, M.F. Becker, L.M. Pope, and K.F. Dennehy, 2000, Occurrence of Nitrous Oxide in the Central High Plains Aquifer, 1999: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 34, pp. 4873-4875.

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HPGW Published Meeting Abstracts

• Gurdak, J.J., Walvoord, M.A., McMahon, P.B., 2007. Focused recharge and enhanced-chemical migration from seasonal ponding near irrigation wells, High Plains aquifer, Denver, CO Geol. Soc. Amer., Annual Meeting (28-31 October); GSA Abstracts with Programs - ISSN 0016-7592 - Vol. 39, no. 6, Abstract No: 69-6.

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• Gurdak, J.J., and Hanson, R.T., 2007, Recharge response to natural climate variability on interannual to multidecadal timescales, San Francisco, CA, American Geophysical Union Annual Fall Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, Abstract No: H14E-08.

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• Gurdak, J.J., 2007, Climate-variability controls on ground-water sustainability, High Plains aquifer, National Ground Water Association: Ground Water Summit, Albuquerque, NM, April 29-May 3, 2007.

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• Gurdak, J.J., Walvoord, M.A., McMahon, P.B., and McCray, J.E., 2006. Estimating aquifer susceptibility to enhanced chemical transport near irrigation wells using artificial neural networks, High Plains aquifer; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Geol. Soc. Amer., Annual Meeting (22-25 October); GSA Abstracts with Programs, Abstract No: 114755, Vol. 38, No. 7.

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• Gurdak, J.J., 2006, Human and Climate Stresses on Ground Water: Life and Water on the High Plains Aquifer, United States: Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, First International Symposium – Water and Better Human Life in the Future, Nov. 6-8, 2006, Kyoto, Japan, Abstracts with Program of Open Lectures, pg. 34.

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• Bruce, B.W., 2006, U.S. Geological Survey's Research Activities in a Highly Stressed Regional Aquifer, the High Plains Aquifer, USA: International Symposium on GRAPHIC, April 4-6, 2006, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan.

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• Gurdak, J.J. and Bruce, B.W., 2006, Techniques to assess human and climate impacts on groundwater – High Plains aquifer perspective: International Symposium on GRAPHIC, April 4-6, 2006, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan.

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• Gurdak, J.J., 2006, Understanding groundwater response to human- and climate-induced stresses: High Plains aquifer: International Symposium on GRAPHIC, April 4-6, 2006, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan.

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• Gurdak, J.J., 2006, Using logistic regression to assess regional ground-water vulnerability; High Plains aquifer: 5th National Water-Quality Monitoring Council meeting, May 7-11, 2006, San Jose, CA.

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• Qi, S.L., and Gurdak, J.J., 2006, Use of GIS in modeling ground-water vulnerability to nitrate in the High Plains aquifer: USGS GIS Conference 2006, Denver, Colorado.

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• Gurdak, J.J., 2006, Predicting Colorado Front Range stream discharge under natural climate variability: The Cache La Poudre River case study, Managing drought and water availability in vulnerable environments: Creating a roadmap for change in the United States, Geological Society of American, Longmont, Colorado, 9/18-20, 2006.

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• Bruce, B.W., Gurdak, J.J., McMahon, P.B., and Hanson, R.T. (2005), Response of deep percolation in the vadose zone to climate variability, Eos Trans. AGU, 86 (52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract H21E-1391

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• Gurdak, J.J., and Hanson, R.T. (2005), Correlation of climate variability with water quality in the High Plains aquifer, Eos Trans. AGU, 86 (52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract H31B-1303

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• Walvoord, M.A., Gurdak, J.J., and McMahon, P.B. (2005), Focused flow near irrigation wells as possible mechanisms of regionally enhanced chemical migration in the High Plains, Central U.S., Eos Trans. AGU, 86 (52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract H131-1414

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• Gurdak, Jason J., and Qi, Sharon L., 2004, Predicting nitrate contamination in recently recharged groundwater: High Plains regional aquifer: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 13-17, 2004.

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• Gurdak, Jason J., and Qi, Sharon L., 2004, Vulnerability of recently recharged ground water in the High Plains aquifer to nitrate contamination: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, November 7-10, 2004.

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• Qi, Sharon L., and Gurdak, Jason J., 2004, GIS and Statistical Groundwater Vulnerability Modeling : Twenty Fourth Annual ESRI International User Conference, San Diego, California, August 9-13, 2004

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• McMahon, P.B., Michel, R.L., Böhlke, J.K., and Dennehy, K.F., 2002, Fluxes of water, nitrate, and atrazine through thick unsaturated zones overlying the High Plains aquifer, USA: 5^th International Symposium on Applied Isotope Geochemistry, Queensland, Australia, May 26-30, 2003 (extended abstract).

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• Bruce, B.W., Dennehy, K.F., Ellet, K.M., Gurdak, J.J., McMahon, P.B., Scanlon, B.R., and Sophocleous, M.A., 2002, Evaluation of Recharge Fluxes to the High Plains Aquifer, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, and Nebraska : 2002 Geological Society of America meeting, Denver, Colorado, October 27-30, 2002.

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• Dennehy, K.F., 2002, High Plains Regional Ground-Water-Quality Assessment: Part I--Update : Great Plains Symposium, Amarillo, Texas, April 1-3, 2002.

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• McMahon, P.B., and Sophocleous, M., 2002, Deep Unsaturated-Zone Recharge to the High Plains Aquifer : Water and the Future of Kansas Conference, Lawrence, Kansas, March 5, 2002

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• Qi, Sharon L., Konduris, Alexandria, and Litke, David W., 2002, Using Satellite Imagery to Map Irrigated Lands : Twenty Second Annual ESRI International User Conference, San Diego, California, July 8-12, 2002

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• Dennehy, K.F., 2001, High Plains Regional Ground-Water study: design and preliminary results : American Geophysical Union 2001 Spring Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, EOS, vol. 82, No. 20, p. S164.

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• Bruce, B.W., and Oelsner, G.P., 2000, Contrasts in water quality from paired domestic and public-supply wells in the Ogallala Formation, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas: American Geophysical Union 2000 Fall Meeting, December 15-19, 2000, San Francisco, CA.

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• Dennehy, K.F., and McMahon, P.B., 1999, Concentrations of nitrous oxide in two western rivers: Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union 2000 Spring Meeting, May 30 - June 3, 2000, Washington D.C., p. S187.

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• McMahon, P.B., and Dennehy, K.F., 1999, Occurrence of nitrous oxide in the central High Plains aquifer: Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union 2000 Spring Meeting, May 30 - June 3, 2000, Washington D.C., p. S186.

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• Becker, M.F., 1999, Ground-water quality of the Ogallala Formation, central High Plains, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, 1999: Proceedings of the Central Plains Irrigation Association Meeting, Garden City, Kansas, February 9-10, 2000, p. 53.

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• Dennehy, K.F., 1999, The U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program-- High Plains Regional Ground Water Study: Proceedings of the Central Plains Irrigation Association Meeting, Garden City, Kansas, February 9-10, 2000, p. 26.

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• Litke, D.W., 1999, Retrospective analysis of historical water-quality data for the High Plains Regional aquifer, 1950-97: Proceedings of the Central Plains Irrigation Association Meeting, Garden City, Kansas, February 9-10, 2000, p. 54.

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• Pope, L.M., 1999, High Plains aquifer and the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program: 17th Annual Water and the Future of Kansas Conference--"Water Quality Restoration and Protection", Manhattan, Kansas, March 1, 2000.

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• Pope, L.M., 1999, Water quality of the Quaternary deposits, central High Plains, Kansas: Proceedings of the Central Plains Irrigation Association Meeting, Garden City, Kansas, February 9-10, 2000, p. 52.

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• Qi, S.L., and Litke, D.W., 1999, Aquifer Visualization--Use of ArcView 3-D Analyst in the High Plains Regional Ground-Water Study, National Water-Quality Assessment Program: Nineteenth Annual Earth Science Research Institute (ESRI) User Conference, San Diego, California, July 26-30, 1999.

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HPGW Other Published Material

• Gurdak, J.J., (2008), Ground-water vulnerability: Nonpoint-source contamination, climate variability, and the High Plains aquifer:, Saarbrucken, Germany,VDM Verlag Publishing, ISBN: 978-3-639-09427-5, 223 p.

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• Gurdak, J.J., 2006, Advances in spatial and temporal analysis of ground-water vulnerability to nonpoint-source contamination, High Plains aquifer, Colorado School of Mines Dissertation, T-6210, 251 pp.

  Citation record

• Bush, P., Dennehy, K., and Moring, B., 2001, The USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program in Texas; A Consistent, Long-Term Approach to Understanding Water Quality in Three Regions of the State: Texas Water Resources Institute Report, vol. 26, no. 1, 6 pp.

  PDF (2.2 MB)

HPGW Meeting Posters

• Gurdak, J.J., 2007, Predicting Colorado streamflow based on historic climate variability: A case study of the Cache La Poudre River, U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Water Science Center, Science Day 2007: New products, tools, and techniques to understand Colorado Water, Lakewood, CO, January 22, 2007.

  Poster (PDF) (21 MB)

• McMahon, P.B., Bruce, B.W., Gurdak, J.J., and Qi, S.L., 2007, New tools for estimating recharge to Colorado's aquifers, U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Water Science Center, Science Day 2007: New products, tools, and techniques to understand Colorado Water, Lakewood, CO, January 22, 2007.

  Poster (PDF) (87 MB)

• Bruce, B.W., Dennehy, K.F., McMahon, P.B., Gurdak, J.J., and Qi, S.L., 2006, Design considerations for assessing ground-water quality in a regional aquifer system: High Plains aquifer. 5th National Water-Quality Monitoring Council meeting, May 7-11, 2006, San Jose, CA.

  Poster (PDF) (49 MB)

• Gurdak, J.J., Bruce, B.W., and McMahon, P.B., 2006, Ground-water response to interannual and interdecadal climate variability, High Plains aquifer: USGS Global Change Workshop, Denver, Colorado, June 26-29, 2006.

  Poster (PDF) (22 MB)

• Gurdak, J.J. and Bruce, B.W., 2006, Techniques to assess human and climate impacts on groundwater – High Plains aquifer perspective: International Symposium on GRAPHIC, April 4-6, 2006, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan.

  Poster (PDF) (60 MB)

• Gurdak, J.J., 2006, Predicting Colorado Front Range stream discharge under natural climate variability: The Cache La Poudre River case study, Managing drought and water availability in vulnerable environments: Creating a roadmap for change in the United States, Geological Society of American, Longmont, Colorado, 9/18-20, 2006.

• Qi, S.L., and Gurdak, J.J., 2006, Use of GIS in modeling ground-water vulnerability to nitrate in the High Plains aquifer: USGS GIS Conference 2006, Denver, Colorado.

  Poster (PDF) (20 MB)

• Gurdak, J.J., Qi, S.L., and McCray, J.E., 2005, Evaluating uncertainty of ground-water vulnerability predictions using Latin Hypercube sampling: Colorado State University Hydrology Days, 2005.

• Gurdak, J.J., and Qi, S.L., 2002, A holistic approach to ground-water-quality assessment in the High Plains: Great Plains Symposium, Amarillo, Texas, April 1-3, 2002.

  Poster (html)

• McMahon, P.B., and Böhlke, J.K., 2001, Radiocarbon ages, denitrification, and paleorecharge conditions in the central High Plains: 4th International Symposium on Applied Isotope Geochemistry, Pacific Grove, CA, June 2001: Program and Abstracts, p. 42-44.

  Poster (pdf) (4.4 MB)

• Bruce, B.W., and Oelsner, G.P., 2000, Contrasts in water quality from paired domestic and public-supply wells in the Ogallala Formation, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas: American Geophysical Union 2000 Fall Meeting, December 15-19, 2000, San Francisco, CA.

  Poster (pdf) (5.1 MB)