Ogallala Aquifer Water Level Measurements

Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District takes measurements on a network of 800+ wells throughout the District each year to determine yearly aquifer changes in water levels. The measurements are taken not only to determine the water level in the aquifer, but also to collect data, provide information for future planning and to determine IRS depletion allowances.

The winter water level measurements play a critical role in in gauging our compliance with the 50/50 goal, to have 50 percent of the water remaining in the aquifer 50 years from now, by allowing us to monitor the decline of saturated thickness in the aquifer over the past year.

Knowing the amount of decline drives enforcement of study areas in places where water levels have dropped below the allowed annual 1.25 percent of saturated thickness. When study areas go into place, the landowner is notified and water use is monitored more frequently by the District. If the decline levels improve it can come out of a study area, however, if decline continues to exceed the allowable limit, the study area could be designated a conservation area by the District which may result in reductions of the maximum annual production rate.

Depth to water level measurements shown in the publication (see link below) were taken from November 2014 to February 2015. The measurements are taken during these winter months when demands for irrigation are lower so that a more representative static water level can be obtained. Every effort is made to capture this measurement when levels have recovered or stabilized.

As for next year, water level measurements should show a positive impact on aquifer declines because of significantly reduced pumping due to recent rains. Some decline will still occur however, but hopefully not as much as in years past. Recharge of aquifers due to surface precipitation will not be realized for decades and in the big picture is negligible. The aquifer is like a big bank account but if you are putting pennies in and taking dollar bills out the bank account will diminish. Conservation is still and will always be a priority even with the improved conditions.

To view PGCD's July 2015 Newsletter - Water Level Issue click here.

Water Level Measurement Program

Our Water Level Measurement Program has fired up again for winter level readings.Each year Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District takes measurements on a network of wells throughout the district to determine yearly aquifer changes in water levels. The measurements are not only taken to determine the water level in the aquifer, but also to collect data, provide information for future planning and to determine IRS depletion allowances. The measurements are taken during the winter months when demands for irrigation are lower so that a representative static water level can be obtained.
Our field technicians started water level measurements to-wards the end of November and will wrap up during the first part of this year before wells are fired up during the spring months to irrigate winter wheat and to prewater for this years crops. The winter water level measurement program plays a big role in helping us to obtain our 50/50 goal, which is to have 50 percent of the water left in the aquifer 50 years from now, by being able to monitor the decline of saturated thickness in the aquifer over the past year. In knowing the amount of decline it helps us to enforce study areas in places where water levels have dropped below the allowed annual 1.25 percent of saturated thickness. The measurements taken can be viewed in our July 2015 newsletter.

New Study Areas Approved

The District's depletion rule establishes a 1.25% acceptable annual decline rate for the aquifer. It is a mechanism put into place to meet the District's 50/50 Standard (to have at least 50% of the current saturated thickness of the aquifer remaining after 50 years, benchmark was established in 1998.) The depletion rule sets production floor rates that guarantee minimum about of water allowed to be pumped. 

In implementing the depletion rule study areas can be created around any area that exceeds the 1.25% decline rate which results in mandatory metering and extra measurements taken throughout the year. A conservation area can be created if an area has been in a study area for at least 2 years and continually breaks the cumulative decline trend which results in production limitations.

All new proposed study areas within Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District were approved by the board during the hearing on August 20 in White Deer, Texas. The new study areas approved include 14-1 in Carson County and 14-2 in Wheeler County. All previous study and conservation areas will remain.

Depth to Water Measurements

Field techs are out once again to make depth to water measurements across the District. Approximately 950 various wells will be measured to provide accurate detailed information for our records. Staff measures windmills, irrigation, domestic and abandoned wells.

    
The information gathered from these measurements is used in creating saturated thickness maps, depletion maps and IRS decline maps. These maps are useful for local producers to determine the amount of water under their property. The data collected is key in the operation of our depletion management program.

    
The maps created from these measurements help to demonstrate how the water table has changed over the last year. They are also used to determine the depletion allowance for IRS purposes.

    
The main goal is to provide accurate information to constituents of the District. If you notice a red pickup with a PGCD logo in your area, we are collecting information.

    
If you have any questions or comments, please call us at 800-320-3536 or 806-883-2501.