Is there water in the High Plains?

The High Plains aquifer underlies an area of about 174,000 square miles that extends through parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. The aquifer is the principal source of water in one of the major agricultural areas of the United States.

What are the high plains aquifers made of?

The High Plains Aquifer system consists of Tertiary sedimentary rock, dominantly sandstone and gravel (Figure 45), eroded from the ancient Rocky Mountains and deposited in the Tertiary period (from about 31 to 5 million years ago). The Ogallala Formation is the primary aquifer unit in the system.

Why is the ground water level declining in the High Plains aquifer?

Abstract. A large imbalance between recharge and water withdrawal has caused vital regions of the High Plains Aquifer (HPA) to experience significant declines in storage.

What aquifer is found in the American High Plains?

The High Plains aquifer unerlies an area of about 174,000 square miles that extends through parts of eight states of the Midwest. This aquifer is the principal source of water in one of the major agricultural areas of the United States.

How far underground is the Ogallala Aquifer?

Its deepest part is 1200 ft. (300 m) and is generally greater in the Northern Plains. The depth of the water below the surface of the land ranges from almost 400 feet (120 m) in parts of the north to between 100 and 200 feet (30 and 61 m) throughout much of the south.

How much longer will the Ogallala Aquifer last?

Using less water can help save the Ogallala Aquifer. At the current rate of use, part of the Ogallala could be exhausted within this century and may take 6,000 years to restore. It is important to develop agricultural innovations to area farmers sustain agricultural production in that region.

Where is the High Plains aquifer located?

The High Plains aquifer, also known as the Ogallala aquifer, underlies about 112 million acres, or 175,000 square miles, in parts of eight states, including: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.

Is the High Plains aquifer the same as the Ogallala Aquifer?

What was the main cause of groundwater depletion in the Great Plains over recent decades?

Groundwater depletion is primarily caused by sustained groundwater pumping.

How is groundwater allocated in the High Plains?

For example, in addition to well spacing requirements, the groundwater in the Northern High Plains Designated Basin is allocated based on a specified water level decline over a 100-year period, and the groundwater in the Southern High Plains Designated Basin is allocated using a predetermined volume of water per acre of land to be irrigated.

What are the 8 designated groundwater basins in Colorado?

Colorado has eight Designated Groundwater Basins. They are Upper Crow Creek, Camp Creek, Northern High Plains, Southern High Plains, Upper Black Squirrel, Upper Big Sandy, Kiowa-Bijou and Lost Creek. Colorado has a complex regulatory and administrative scheme for water rights and the use of water in the state.

What is a designated groundwater basin?

Designated Groundwater Basins are regions of the state where most of the water has been derived from groundwater supplies or in areas where groundwater would not be available to fulfill decreed surface water rights. Under a formal process dictated by statute, these basins were declared to contain designated groundwater.

What are the 5 major bodies of water in Colorado?

They are Upper Crow Creek, Camp Creek, Northern High Plains, Southern High Plains, Upper Black Squirrel, Upper Big Sandy, Kiowa-Bijou and Lost Creek. Colorado has a complex regulatory and administrative scheme for water rights and the use of water in the state.