USGS Monthly Groundwater News and Highlights: January 03, 2017

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Featured Product: New Tool for Assessing Water Availability in Northern High Plains Aquifer

USGS scientists recently completed a new groundwater-flow model of the Northern High Plains Aquifer in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. A groundwater flow model is a computer program used to simulate or forecast regional groundwater flow conditions over time, including changes in water levels. Scientists use these models to organize their knowledge and understanding of groundwater systems. The new USGS Northern High Plains aquifer regional groundwater availability model is now available for use by federal, state and local agencies to inform the evaluation and design of existing and new groundwater monitoring networks and other water-resource management decisions. Learn more:

USGS Groundwater-Related Press Releases

Animation of Groundwater Watch Active Water Level Network, 30 days

The USGS Active Groundwater Level Network includes about 20,000 wells that have been measured by the USGS or USGS cooperators at least once within the past 13 months. The animation shows a daily snapshot of water-level statistics in the network for December 2016. Credit: USGS. The image is in the public domain.

USGS Releases Results of Gem County Groundwater Quality Study (12/21/16)

Crossing Borders for a Secure Water Future: US-Mexico San Pedro River Aquifer Report (12/20/16)

Agencies Begin Work on Treasure Valley Groundwater-Flow Model (12/19/16)

How Much Water Do We Use? (12/14/16)

USGS Releases First Tool Since 1980s Assessing Water Availability in Northern High Plains Aquifer (12/13/16)

Long days, fresh ideas, and new connections (12/08/16)

Streamflow and Springflow Data for Comal and San Marcos Rivers, Texas Now Available Online (12/07/16)

EarthView: Saudi Wheat Experiment Relied on Fossil Water (12/03/16)

USGS Groundwater-Related Publications

Genetic and grade and tonnage models for sandstone-hosted roll-type uranium deposits, Texas Coastal Plain, USA (12/21/16)

Hydrogeologic framework and characterization of the Truxton Aquifer on the Hualapai Reservation, Mohave County, Arizona (12/31/16)

Status of groundwater levels and storage volume in the Equus Beds aquifer near Wichita, Kansas, January 2016 (12/29/16)

Sources of groundwater and characteristics of surface-water recharge at Bell, White, and Suwannee Springs, Florida, 2012-13 (12/22/16)

Ambient water quality in aquifers used for drinking-water supplies, Gem County, southwestern Idaho, 2015 (12/21/16)

Science to support the understanding of Ohio's water resources, 2016-17 (12/19/16)

Occurrence, distribution, and volume of metals-contaminated sediment of selected streams draining the Tri-State Mining District, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas, 2011-12 (12/15/16)

Groundwater-flow model of the northern High Plains aquifer in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming (12/13/16)

Data from exploratory sampling of groundwater in selected oil and gas areas of coastal Los Angeles County and Kern and Kings Counties in southern San Joaquin Valley, 2014-15: California oil, gas, and groundwater project (12/12/16)

Performance evaluation testing of wells in the gradient control system at a federally operated Confined Disposal Facility using single well aquifer tests, East Chicago, Indiana (12/08/16)

Groundwater conditions in Georgia, 2012-14 (12/07/16)

USGS Colorado Water Science Center bookmark (12/06/16)

Molecular-level evidence provided by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry for oil-derived doc in groundwater at Bemidji, Minnesota (12/05/16)

Hydrologic assessment of the shallow groundwater flow system beneath the Shinnecock Nation tribal lands, Suffolk County, New York (12/02/16)

USGS Groundwater Flow and Transport Model Data Releases

MODFLOW-NWT groundwater flow model used to evaluate conditions in the Northern High Plains Aquifer in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming (12/12/2016)

Field Photo: Studying Groundwater Quality

In this photo a USGS hydrologist collects a water sample from a residential well in Emmett, Idaho, after receiving permission from the homeowner. The entire population of southwestern Idaho's Gem County depends on aquifers for its drinking water. The sample was analyzed as part of a water-quality study the USGS conducted in cooperation with Gem County, Idaho, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. The results of the Gem County, Idaho, groundwater quality study were recently released. For more USGS groundwater science in Idaho, visit the USGS Idaho Water Science Center online.

Photo of scientist collecting groundwater sample in the field

Credit: USGS/Jim Bartolino. Photo is in the public domain. Click on photo for larger version.

Archive of Past Highlights:

Past monthly summaries are available online.