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USGS outlines Douglas County groundwater network data showing long‑term declines in parts of Denver Basin bedrock aquifer
Summary
USGS staff presented long‑term groundwater level monitoring in Douglas County's Denver Basin aquifers, showing statistically significant declines at several sites and outlining options to expand monitoring; commissioners discussed adding wells and funding to improve local data coverage.
USGS scientists briefed the Douglas County Water Commission on the county’s Groundwater Network, a cooperative monitoring project that has collected discrete and continuous water-level data in Denver Basin bedrock aquifers since 2011. Presenters said several wells show statistically significant long‑term declines, and they outlined how the county could expand monitoring and partner to fund additional sites.
Kelly Palka of the U.S. Geological Survey described the two measurement types used in the network: discrete manual measurements (lowering an electronic or steel tape into a well to register the water level) and continuous monitoring using pressure sensors (loggers). Palka emphasized the need for homeowner permission for site access and noted that equipment changes and property turnover have reduced the active network: “we used to have 36, but currently we have 21.”
USGS staff summarized two scientific-investigation reports (2014 and 2020) that analyzed early and 2011–2019 trends. The 2020 report identified statistically significant declining trends at multiple wells; one Denver‑aquifer site (Denver 8) showed a decline of about 5.5 feet per year in the study period, while other sites recorded smaller declines. Palka cautioned the commission that the project had not produced a new formal trend analysis since 2019 but that recent discrete and continuous data continue to show lower water levels at many sites compared with initial 2011 readings.
Commissioners asked questions about aquifer thickness, well logs and the spatial density needed for robust trend detection. Megan Bell, section chief for the USGS Hydrologic Investigations Unit, said USGS can partner on expanded monitoring but typically relies on local cooperator funding for long‑term networks: “we are your partners… we provide expertise, but funding comes primarily from you all.” Commissioners noted the County previously allocated approximately $60,000 to extend the study and discussed whether to budget for substantially more sites to improve geographic coverage.
USGS staff recommended selecting additional target wells in areas of interest and noted complementary datasets (municipal and district monitoring, well logs, groundwater‑age dating and historic pumping rates) would improve interpretation. The USGS reminded the commission that all measurements are publicly available in the National Water Information System (NWIS). Commissioners directed staff to keep the County Commissioners informed of identified data gaps and potential cooperator funding needs.
