Ground‐Water Management in Western Kansas
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 109, Issue 10
Abstract
Western Kansas is underlain by the Ogallala aquifer that produces water of good quality. Many large‐capacity wells have been drilled for irrigation, industrial, and municipal use. Ground‐water withdrawals exceed recharge and water levels are declining at an average rate of 3 ft/yr. Five ground‐water management districts were formed to help control and manage this resource. Management policies that have the most effect on withdrawals are well spacing and a planned rate of ground‐water depletion. The depletion policies in effect limit development to a 40% depletion of the aquifer in 20 to 25 yr or to a “safe yield” concept.
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References
1.
Fry J. C., “The Ogallala Formation,” Ogallala Aquifer Symposium, Special Report No. 39, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Tex., May, 1970, pp. 5–14.
2.
“Groundwater Management in Kansas,” Groundwater Management Districts Association, Mennonite Press, Newton, Kans., 1980.
3.
Gutentag, E. D., and Weeks, J. B., “Water Table in the High Plains Aquifer in 1978 in Parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming,” U.S. Geological Survey HA‐642, 1980.
4.
Gutentag, E. D., Lobmeyer, D. H., and Slagle, S. E., “Geohydrology of Southwestern Kansas,” U.S. Geological Survey Open‐File Report 80‐218, Lawrence, Kans., 1980.
5.
Pabst, M. E., “January 1981 Water Levels, and Data Related to Water‐Level Changes, Western and South‐Central Kansas,” U.S. Geological Survey Open‐File Report 81‐1001, Lawrence, Kans., 1981.
6.
Weeks, J. B., and Gutentag, E. D., “Bedrock Geology, Altitude of Base, and 1980 Saturated Thickness of the High Plains Aquifer in Parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming,” U.S. Geological Survey HA‐658, 1981.
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Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 109 • Issue 10 • October 1983
Pages: 1314 - 1322
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 ASCE.
History
Published online: Oct 1, 1983
Published in print: Oct 1983
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