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

McGuire, Virginia L.

doi:10.3133/sir20065324

Cited by 72 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In the United States and other developed countries, it is often possible to monitor large aquifer systems using a network of piezometers. For example, the USGS publishes annual reports on the state of the central US High Plains aquifer system (e.g., McGuire 2003). However, in many parts of the world, regional groundwater assessments are not feasible because adequate networks of wells do not exist, or if they do, records are not centralized or are unobtainable due to political boundaries.…”

Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating groundwater storage changes in the Mississippi River basin (USA) using GRACE

et al. 2006

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Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating groundwater storage changes in the Mississippi River basin (USA) using GRACE

et al. 2006

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“…Water for irrigation is sourced from groundwater in the south and central regions and from a combination of groundwater (86%) and surface water (16%) in the north (2005 data, [Kenny et al, 2009]). If groundwater depletion is spread over the entire High Plains Aquifer, it would result in a mean water table decline of 4.2 m; however, there is almost no depletion in the north, and water table mounds are found near parts of the Platte River, whereas depletion is focused in the CHP and SHP with water table declines of as much as 70 m in Texas [McGuire, 2009]. The spatial variation in storage depletion is primarily controlled by differences in recharge from the NHP to the SHP, which in turn is strongly affected by variations in soil texture [Scanlon et al, 2012].…”

Section: Background To Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential climate change effects on groundwater recharge in the High Plains Aquifer, USA

Crosbie

Scanlon

Mpelasoka

et al. 2013

Water Resources Research

181

142

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[1] Considering that past climate changes have significantly impacted groundwater resources, quantitative predictions of climate change effects on groundwater recharge may be valuable for effective management of future water resources. This study used 16 global climate models (GCMs) and three global warming scenarios to investigate changes in groundwater recharge rates for a 2050 climate relative to a 1990 climate in the U.S. High Plains region. Groundwater recharge was modeled using the Soil-Vegetation-AtmosphereTransfer model WAVES for a variety of soil and vegetation types representative of the High Plains. The median projection under a 2050 climate includes increased recharge in the Northern High Plains (þ8%), a slight decrease in the Central High Plains (À3%), and a larger decrease in the Southern High Plains (À10%), amplifying the current spatial trend in recharge from north to south. There is considerable uncertainty in both the magnitude and direction of these changes in recharge projections. Predicted changes in recharge between dry and wet future climate scenarios encompass both an increase and decrease in recharge rates, with the magnitude of this range greater than 50% of current recharge. On a proportional basis, sensitivity of recharge to changes in rainfall indicates that areas with high current recharge rates are least sensitive to change in rainfall and vice versa. Sensitivity analyses indicate an amplification of change in recharge compared to change in rainfall, and this amplification is in the range of 1-6 with an average of 2.5-3.5 depending upon the global warming scenario.

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“…S6). The north-to-south temperature Table S3) (7). This depletion represents ∼8% of groundwater in storage available before irrigation (∼4,000 km 3 ; Fig.…”

Section: Comparison Of General Attributes Of the Hp-and Cvirrigated Rmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Can groundwater-fed irrigation be managed sustainably? Ground-based monitoring, modeling, and satellites [Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)] have been used to estimate groundwater depletion in different irrigated regions (6)(7)(8). Maximum available blue water resources (rivers and aquifers) have only been depleted by ∼10% globally, suggesting that we are not running out of water; however, we may be running out of water locally and during droughts because of spatiotemporal variability in depletion (9).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater depletion and sustainability of irrigation in the US High Plains and Central Valley

Scanlon

Faunt

Longuevergne

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

1,073

755

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International audienceAquifer overexploitation could significantly impact crop production in the United States because 60% of irrigation relies on groundwater. Groundwater depletion in the irrigated High Plains and California Central Valley accounts for ∼50% of groundwater depletion in the United States since 1900. A newly developed High Plains recharge map shows that high recharge in the northern High Plains results in sustainable pumpage, whereas lower recharge in the central and southern High Plains has resulted in focused depletion of 330 km3 of fossil groundwater, mostly recharged during the past 13,000 y. Depletion is highly localized with about a third of depletion occurring in 4% of the High Plains land area. Extrapolation of the current depletion rate suggests that 35% of the southern High Plains will be unable to support irrigation within the next 30 y. Reducing irrigation withdrawals could extend the lifespan of the aquifer but would not result in sustainable management of this fossil groundwater. The Central Valley is a more dynamic, engineered system, with north/south diversions of surface water since the 1950s contributing to ∼7× higher recharge. However, these diversions are regulated because of impacts on endangered species. A newly developed Central Valley Hydrologic Model shows that groundwater depletion since the 1960s, totaling 80 km3, occurs mostly in the south (Tulare Basin) and primarily during droughts. Increasing water storage through artificial recharge of excess surface water in aquifers by up to 3 km3 shows promise for coping with droughts and improving sustainability of groundwater resources in the Central Valley

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

Abstract: The High Plains aquifer underlies 111.6 million acres (174,000 square miles) in parts of eight States-Colorado,

Cited by 72 publications

References 15 publications

Estimating groundwater storage changes in the Mississippi River basin (USA) using GRACE

Estimating groundwater storage changes in the Mississippi River basin (USA) using GRACE

Potential climate change effects on groundwater recharge in the High Plains Aquifer, USA

Groundwater depletion and sustainability of irrigation in the US High Plains and Central Valley

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