Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/668983
(NRDs) to limit the amount of water that can be pumped annually. They have successively made major reductions in the amount and rate at which the aquifer is declining. Positive news from the 2015 Nebraska Statewide Ground- water-Level Monitoring Report reveals much of the state is beginning to recover from the 2012-2013 drought. From spring 2014 to spring 2015, water levels began to rise after significant declines resulting from an extended period of drought from early 2012 through summer 2013. Above-normal precipitation for much of Nebraska and better water-use practices accounted for the rises. The average change from spring 2014 to spring 2015 was a rise of 0.53 feet. Although these one-year rises are good, many parts of the state remain below 2012 levels, according to the report. East- ern Nebraska saw some of the largest rises—with some wells recording rises of 10 to 15 feet. Rises in these areas are the result of above-average precipitation and reduced need for irrigation pumping. It is expected in spring 2016 water levels will continue to rise throughout much of the state as was seen in spring 2015, particularly in eastern Nebraska where flooding was common. The effect of climate change on U.S. irrigation and water levels was summarized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a 2015 paper, Climate Change, Water Scarcity, and Adapta- tion. Irrigated acres are expected to decline as the country warms. This is because either more rain reduces the need for irrigation, or less water constrains the ability of farmers to irrigate. In some cases, dryland farming may become more profitable. For Cody, a historical study of rainfall amounts and the ef- fect on water levels left a lasting impression on him following a 2008 presentation by a representative of the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District in southeast Nebraska. The representative showed data from the 1950s comparing rainfall to water levels in the district and did the same for 2008. Cody says the graphs mirrored each other: If there was heavy rainfall, the water level was up; if it didn't rain, both were down. Tens of thousands of irrigation wells were added in the district from the 1950s to 2008, he says, and the graphs did not change. "This representative concluded, in that particular area any- way, irrigation has little to no effect on groundwater levels," Cody says. "Those were his exact words—little to no effect." Cody says this is true in northeast Nebraska and west of his area toward north-central Nebraska where Beck is located. Beck says the saturated thickness in his region has been stable where he saw small changes even during the 2012 drought. The average declines in Beck's region were less than 3 feet during the drought with saturated thickness between 150 and 400 feet, which he says are minimal declines. "Precipitation drives water levels in our region, and for the most part, irrigation has a minimal effect on the aquifer lev- els," Beck says. "Unfortunately, irrigation is the only thing that can be regulated or controlled and so all of the pressure to manage water levels and stream flows is put on that segment even though much of it is up to Mother Nature." In the North Platte NRD in western Nebraska, average pre- cipitation is 14-16 inches a year. It has had its fair share of dry years with 2012 seeing only 6 inches, but in 2015 the district recorded 25 inches, according to John Berge, general manager of the North Platte NRD in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The North Platte NRD has 800 monitoring wells—more than most states have and well more than other Nebraska NRDs—to measure static water levels three times a year in the spring, summer, and fall. Along with measuring static water levels, the district has put into place multiple regula- tions based on Nebraska's legislative bill, LB 962 in 2004, which deemed the river basins over-appropriated in terms of groundwater expansion. The district is in the midst of striving to meet specific obligations to maintain the ability for down- stream appropriators. The district has a mix of aquifer systems, with the Ogallala on the eastern portion of it and an alluvial aquifer along the North Platte River and Arikaree formations in the outlying areas. On allocation alone in 2015 due to heavy precipitation, Berge says there was more than 17,000 acre-feet of credit back to the North Platte River. "In a district that has as few irrigated acres as we do, that is a very significant number," Berge says. Overall, the Ogallala Aquifer in Kansas is in decline, ac- cording to Schnieders, particularly in the western part of the state. There is little new development occurring; however, the changes occurring are in the review, assignment, and transfer of water rights. Second to the loss of quantity in Kansas, Schnieders says the driving issue is management. There is increased activity by the five Groundwater Management Districts, but they are limited in their ability to mandate or enforce change. What progress has been made is a result of a shareholder mentality and bringing all parties reliant on groundwater to the table to discuss the elephant in the room—aquifer levels. With some exceptions, the bulk of proactive conservation efforts at this time are being driven by the municipalities. Marks works closely with municipalities in evaluating their current and future groundwater options. "With water rights impairment, is there regional decline? Over-development? Drought? Yes, yes, and yes," Marks says. Schnieders agrees. "Future usability will require major changes to crop management and selection. Until that becomes the new norm, little change is expected." Cody Christensen (pictured) and his three younger brothers man- age Christensen Well & Irrigation, which was established by his parents, Bill and Connie, in 1973. Photos courtesy Christensen Well & Irrigation. OGALLALA continues on page 24 WWJ May 2016 23 Twitter @WaterWellJournl