High Plains/Ogallala Aquifer Information

Index Well Program

(High Plains Aquifer Calibration Monitoring Well Program)

The index well program is an improved approach to measuring hydrologic responses at the local level. The program is expected to make a significant contribution to understanding the aquifer dynamics at scales appropriate to the definition and management of aquifer subunits, and ultimately, providing cost-effective improvements for long-term management. A subsidiary goal is to directly examine issues and areas of particular interest to the GMDs and the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources (KDA-DWR).

Information is also available on the Survey's Barometric Response Function Software, which computes a function describing the influence of barometric (atmospheric) pressure variations on water levels in wells and uses that function to filter atmospherically induced fluctuations from observed water levels. The software can also compute earth tide response functions and correct water levels for the influence of earth tides.

Three index wells have been installed in the Ogallala-High Plains aquifer, one in each of the three western Kansas GMDs, and are being continuously monitored. The sites are located in Haskell (GMD3), Scott (GMD1), and Thomas (GMD4) counties (see red dots on map below). In 2012 the KGS installed continuous data loggers in four wells along the Kansas-Oklahoma border. These sites are located near Cimarron, Hugoton, Liberal, and Rolla (see green squares on map below). Two of these sites, Liberal and Hugoton have two wells each which in addition to being continuously monitored are also on near real-time telemetry like the original three index wells. In 2014 two additional wells (green squares) were added to the index well network, Belpre in GMD5 and Colby located at the KSU-NWREC facility in GMD4. These wells are on the telemetry system as well.

Results of the continuous monitoring are shown as hydrographs for each of the sites. The Haskell County hydrograph shows drawdowns greater than 120 ft during the pumping season. The Haskell County well is screened in a (semi-)confined zone at the base of the aquifer. In contrast to the Haskell County hydrograph, the hydrographs for the Scott County and the Thomas County wells show drawdows of on the order of 5 ft. These wells are screened in essentially unconfined portions of the aquifer.

Interactive Map

Click on the map to explore the data.

Kansas map showing location of index wells.

Data

High Plains Aquifer - Continuous Measurement
Bentley
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Belpre
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Colby
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Harvey County
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Haskell County
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Hugoton Site--495
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Kearny-Finney County
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Lane County
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Larned
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Liberal Site--436
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
McPherson
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Mount Hope
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Pretty Prairie
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Rozel
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Satanta Well Nest
    Ogallala:
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
    Dakota:
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Scott County
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
SD 6 Seegmiller (Sheridan County)
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
SD 6 Steiger (Thomas County)
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Sherman County
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Sherman County 2
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Thomas County
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Trousdale
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Ulysses Well Nest
    Ogallala:
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
    Dakota:
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Wallace County
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Wichita County
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Wichita County 2
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Willis Water Technology Farm
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements
Data Loggers
Cimarron Data Logger
Wizard well page
Text Data File
Hydrograph
Hugoton Site--313
Wizard well page
Text Data File
Hydrograph
Rolla Data Logger
Wizard well page
Text Data File
Hydrograph
SD 6 Baalman (Sheridan County)
Wizard well page
Excel Data File
Hydrograph
SD 6 Beckman (Sheridan County)
Wizard well page
Excel Data File
Hydrograph
SD 6 Moss (Sheridan County)
Wizard well page
Excel Data File
Hydrograph
Other Continuously Measured Wells
Cimarron National Grasslands
Wizard well page
Continuous measurements

Presentations

PDF of Index Well Program Update Presentation at the Kansas Water Office April 5, 2011

PDF of Index Well Program Update Presentation at the Kansas Water Office March 3, 2009

Progress and Annual Reports

Also available...

GMD 1 Continuous Monitoring Wells Expansion Project—Data from wells with continuously recorded water levels located in GMD 1.