Groundwater science
U.S. Geological Survey — High Plains Water-Level Monitoring Study
Aquifer-wide monitoring and water-level change from predevelopment to the present, produced with local, state, and federal cooperators.
Open USGS study ↗A collaborative effort
No single organization owns the aquifer story. USGS provides basin-scale science and monitoring; state agencies administer water programs and maintain state datasets; local districts and universities add detail that makes regional information useful on the ground.
How the Tracker uses evidence
Measured data, Tracker interpretation, and scenarios are kept separate. Working indices are communication tools—not percentages of water remaining. Present-day infrastructure is context, not automatic attribution. Future views are labeled scenarios unless a source specifically supports a forecast.
National sources
Primary federal sources used for aquifer extent, water levels, conservation context, demographic context, and climate records.
Monitoring network
USGS — High Plains Aquifer Groundwater Network
Selected wells and annual groundwater-level information contributed by USGS and numerous partner agencies.
Open groundwater network ↗Land stewardship
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Conservation science, technical standards, and voluntary assistance for soil, water, working lands, and habitat.
Open NRCS ↗People + communities
U.S. Census Bureau — Data and Maps
Population, housing, economic, and community data used for geographic and demographic context.
Open Census data ↗Climate context
NOAA / NCEI — Climate Data Online
Quality-controlled historical weather and climate records, including precipitation and long-term climate normals.
Open NOAA climate data ↗State & regional partners
Current official agencies and data partners across the eight-state High Plains aquifer region.
Nebraska
Water, local management, and university monitoring
Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment; Nebraska Natural Resources Districts; University of Nebraska–Lincoln Conservation and Survey Division.
Kansas
High Plains aquifer science and water administration
Kansas Geological Survey and Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources.
Colorado
Colorado Division of Water Resources
Water-right administration, groundwater permitting and enforcement, records, and technical support for eastern Colorado designated basins.
Texas
Texas Water Development Board — Groundwater Division
Groundwater levels, quality, well records, aquifer studies, regional-scale models, and groundwater planning information.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
State groundwater data, wells, monitoring resources, standards, and mapping.
New Mexico
Office of the State Engineer
Water-right administration plus statewide groundwater-level monitoring in cooperation with USGS.
Wyoming
Wyoming State Engineer’s Office — Ground Water Division
Groundwater permitting, observation-well monitoring, aquifer investigations, records, and water-right administration.
South Dakota
Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Groundwater quality monitoring, data and mapping, environmental programs, and state water-resource information.
Integrity rules
These rules govern how source material is translated into the Tracker experience.
Index ≠ percent remainingThe 100 / 85 / 60 / 40 values are Tracker comparison indices, not USGS estimates of the percentage of aquifer water left.
Regional ≠ local measurementBroad decline rings and basin conditions are regional context. They are not presented as measurements at a specific city, home, or well.
Context ≠ causationInfrastructure locations may be shown for geographic context. Presence alone is not evidence that a facility caused a nearby groundwater decline.
Scenario ≠ forecastThe 2050 view is a Tracker scenario. It is not labeled as a measured future condition or a guaranteed forecast.
Company claim ≠ independent findingWater-use or cooling statements from companies are identified as company statements unless independently measured evidence is available.
Illustration ≠ surveyed profileThe Groundwater Window is educational. Its cross-section and illustrative profiles are not presented as literal statewide geology or verified well measurements.
“You cannot borrow from tomorrow’s groundwater.”
Credibility means showing what we know, where it came from, what we inferred, and where the evidence stops. The source list will be reviewed as the Tracker evolves.