Water district starts winter measurements

Each year Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District takes measurements on a network of more than 800 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 more representative static water level can be obtained.

Field technicians have started water level measurements and will continue through the beginning of the New Year. The winter water level measurements play a critical role in in gauging compliance with the 50/50 goal, which is to have 50 percent of the water left 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 by the District and the area 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 limit, the study area could be designated a conservation area by the District which may result in reductions of the maximum annual production rate.

If you have questions (806) 883-2501. The measurements taken will appear in the district’s July 2015 newsletter.