Project ID: 2002KS1B

Title: High Plains Aquifer Information Network

Project Type: Education

Focus Categories: Groundwater, Water Supply, Hydrology

Keywords: World Wide Web, Database Access, High Plains Aquifer, Water Resources

Start Date: 03/01/2004

End Date: 02/28/2005

Federal Funds: $12,000

Non-Federal Matching Funds: $24,232

Congressional District: 2nd District

Principal Investigators:
Margaret A. Townsend
Kansas Geological Survey

Gary Clark

Abstract

Current issues and developments surrounding the High Plains aquifer necessitate that data and information be made readily available to state agencies, GMDs, researchers, modelers, water users, and the general public. This includes information related to hydrogeologic conditions, water rights, water use, agriculture, socio-economics, energy, environmental issues, and interested agencies. Support for this web-based information dissemination is explicitly expressed in both the FY05 Kansas Water Plan (KWA, 2003, p. 24, Water Management section) and the Ogallala Aquifer Technical and Management Advisory Committee report (2001, p. 15, Appendix A). In March 2003 the USGS Regional Hydrologist recommended to the USGS District Chiefs in the High Plains states have their staff review the HIPLAIN site to help determine if links to information and/or data are missing. To date we have heard from most of the High Plain states.

A broad, collaborative water information network is necessary to readily disseminate data and information concerning the High Plains aquifer. The HIPLAIN project (http://www.hiplain.org/) is dedicated to providing this service: working with other agencies, organizations, and individuals to provide a complete set of information, references, links, maps, data, and data-analysis tools related to the High Plains aquifer in all eight states.

In Year 1, HIPLAIN developers created a web-site framework with information related to the High Plains aquifer in Kansas. Year 1 focused primarily on site design and locating and providing links to existing sources of information. In Year 2, HIPLAIN expanded and improved the site, incorporating reviews and input from users. Accomplishments for Year 2 include redesign of the site using ColdFusion language to improve efficiency and eliminate the frames format that is in the current site. This will make the site more efficient and bring it into compliance with the web content accessibility directives of the Information Technology Executive Council (ITEC, 2001). In addition, the Ogallala Aquifer Institute (OAI) web site is under development and is soon to be made available to the public. State pages for all the other High Plains states are under development and have been added to HIPLAIN.

Site development in Year 3 will include: a clickable map that will enable users to obtain information on a statewide and regional basis; collaboration with OAI and other High Plains states to obtain as many public accessible data links as possible; develop access to Kansas water-quality data from USGS and EPA Storet databases as well as KGS water-quality project data and the recharge estimate work done by Sophocleous (in press) through the KGS web site; and discussions with KWO and DWR concerning development of presentation of legal materials regarding water rights, water law, water policy, and water management issues.

The investigators for the group will work with the Ogallala Aquifer Initiative consortium of Texas organizations (USDA-ARS; Texas A&M; West Texas A&M; and Texas Tech) and Kansas State University to coordinate the goals of the HIPLAIN site with the overall goals of their program.

Progress/Completion Report PDF