High Plains Water-Level Monitoring Study

Reports were generated annually from 1988 to 1995 and generally every two years from 1997 to 2019 to report water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer from predevelopment to the reporting year. For 2000, a special type of USGS report, a Circular, was generated to present information for the general public on changes in water in storage from predevelopment (about 1950) to 2000 and on groundwater management approaches used by the States in the High Plains region.

In the 1988 to 1999 reports, the maps of long-term water-level changes were for the period spring 1980 to spring of the report year. In these reports, the change in water in storage from predevelopment to the report year is calculated by using a map of water-level changes, predevelopment to 1980, with the report's map of water-level changes, 1980 to the report year.

In the 2000 to 2019 reports, the map of long-term water-level changes is for the period predevelopment to spring of the report year. A network of 8,284 wells was used to monitor water levels in the High Plains aquifer in 2019. In these reports, the change in water in storage is calculated directly from the report's maps of water-level changes. In 2002, an extra report was published with maps of water-level changes from spring 1980 to spring 2002.

2019 publication and digital data files

Water-Level and Recoverable Water in Storage Changes, High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2019 and 2017 to 2019

Data from maps of water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, predevelopment (about 1950) to 2019 and 2017 to 2019

2017 publication and digital data files

Water-Level and Recoverable Water in Storage Changes, High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2017 and 2015–17

Data from maps of water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, predevelopment (about 1950) to 2017 and 2015–17

2015 publication brief

Water-level and storage changes in the High Plains aquifer, predevelopment to 2015 and 2013-15

2015 report and digital data files

Water-level and recoverable water in storage changes, High Plains aquifer, predevelopment to 2015 and 2013–15

Data used to map water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer, predevelopment (about 1950) to 2015 and 2013 to 2015

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2017-5040

2013 report and digital data files

Water-Level Changes and Change in Water in Storage in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2013 and 2011–13

Digital map of water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, predevelopment (about 1950) to 2013

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5218

2011 report and digital data files

Water-Level and Storage Changes in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2011 and 2009-11

Digital map of water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, predevelopment (about 1950) to 2011

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geolgoical Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5291

2009 reports

Water-Level Changes in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2009, 2007-08, and 2008-09 and Change in Water in Storage, Predevelopment to 2009

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5089

Changes in Water Levels and Storage in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2009

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-2011-3069

2007 reports and digital data file

Water-Level Changes in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2007, 2005-06, and 2006-07

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5019

Changes in Water Levels and Storage in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2007

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-2009-3005

2005 reports

Water-Level Changes in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2005 and 2003 to 2005

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5324

Changes in Water Levels and Storage in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2005

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-2007-3029

2003 report

Water-Level Changes in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2003 and 2002 to 2003

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-2004-3097

2002 report

Water-level changes in the High Plains Aquifer, predevelopment to 2002, 1980 to 2002, and 2001 to 2002

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-2004-3026

2001 report

Water-level changes in the High Plains Aquifer, predevelopment to 2001, 1999 to 2000, and 2000 to 2001

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-078-03

2000 report

Water in storage and approaches to ground-water management, High Plains aquifer, 2000

By McGuire, V.L., Johnson, M.R., Schieffer, R.L., Stanton, J.S., Sebree, S.K., and Verstraeten, I.M.
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1243

1999 report

Water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer, 1980 to 1999

By McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-029-01

1998 Web page

Water-level changes in High Plains aquifer, 1980-98

By McGuire, V.L., and Fischer, B.C.
U.S. Geological Survey data

1997 report and digital data files

Digital map of saturated thickness in the High Plains Aquifer in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, 1996 to 1997

By Fischer, B.C., Kollasch, K.M., McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2000-300

Digital map of water-level changes in the High Plains Aquifer in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, 1980 to 1997

By Fischer, B.C., Kollasch, K.M., McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2000-96

Water-level changes, 1980 to 1997, and saturated thickness, 1996-97, in the High Plains aquifer

By McGuire, V.L., and Fischer, B.C.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 124-99

1996 Web page and digital data file

Digital data set of water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, 1980 to 1996

By Fischer, B.C., McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-198

Water-level changes in High Plains aquifer, 1980-96

By McGuire, V.L., Stanton, C.P., and Fischer, B.C.,
U.S. Geological Survey data

1995 report and digital data file

Digital data set of water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, 1980 to 1995

By Fischer, B.C., and McGuire, V.L.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-197

Water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer-predevelopment to 1995

By McGuire, V.L., and Sharpe, J.B.
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4081

Water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer, 1980 to 1995

By McGuire, V.L., and Sharpe, J.B.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 068-97

1994 reports

Water-Level Changes in the High Plains aquifer, Predevelopment to 1994

By Dugan, J.T., and Sharpe, J.B.
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4208

Water-Level Changes in the High Plains Aquifer, 1980 to 1994

By Dugan, J.T., and Sharpe, J.B.
U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 215-95

1993 report

Water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer-Predevelopment to 1993

By Dugan, J.T., and Cox, D.A.
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4157

1992 report

Water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer-Predevelopment to 1992

By Dugan, J.T., McGrath, Timothy, and Zelt, R.B.
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4027

1991 report

Water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer-Predevelopment to 1991

By McGrath, Timothy, and Dugan, J.T.
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 93-4088

1990 report

Water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer-Predevelopment to 1990

By Dugan, J.T., and Schild, D.E.
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 91-4165

1989 report

Water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer underlying parts of South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas-Predevelopment through nonirrigation season 1988-89

By Dugan, J.T., Schild, D.E., and Kastner, W.M.
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 90-4153

1988 report

Water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer underlying parts of South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas-Predevelopment through nonirrigation season 1987-1988

By Kastner, W.M., Schild, D.E., and Spahr, D.S.
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 89-4073