2012 HPWD Winter Water Level Measurements

Winter water level measurements indicate an average decline of -1.87 feet in the groundwater levels of the Ogallala Aquifer within the 16-county High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 (HPWD) service area in 2012. This decline is 0.69 of a foot less than the -2.56 feet decline recorded during extreme drought conditions in 2011. The 10-year average change (2003-2013) was -0.89 of a foot while the five-year average change (2008-2013) was -1.40 feet. Each county in the water district had declining groundwater levels in 2012.  Locally,  groundwater levels changed -1.95 feet in Bailey County and -3.13 feet in Parmer County.