January 1987 water levels, and data related to water-level changes, western and south-central Kansas

Hydrologic data related to water level measurements were collected in observation wells in western and south-central Kansas. The measurements were made in midwinter when pumping was minimal and water levels had recovered, for the most part, from the effects of pumping during the previous irrigation season. Annual hydrologic data are provided for relating water level changes from a ' base-reference year ' (predevelopment year), a year of abnormally large amounts of precipitation and minimum pumpage (1966 or 1974), and each of seven consecutive years of measurement (1980-86). The ' base-reference year ' is designated as 1940 for the southwestern area, 1944 for the south-central area, and 1950 for the northwestern, west-central, and Equus beds areas. Data also are provided for relating the average annual water-level changes, saturated thickness. (USGS)