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Kansas Geological Survey reports slower water-level declines, expands 3‑D mapping and water‑quality monitoring
Summary
The Kansas Geological Survey briefed the Committee on Water on preliminary 2026 winter water‑level measurements showing reduced declines and localized recharge, the AQUA water‑quality program (~300 wells sampled), a statewide airborne electromagnetic mapping program, a 5‑year Dakota Aquifer study and sediment‑provenance work to target reservoir management.
Jay Cabas of the Kansas Geological Survey told the Committee on Water that KGS’s winter 2026 water‑level campaign measured about 1,400–1,500 wells statewide in cooperation with the Division of Water Resources, with teams uploading data in near real time. Preliminary results show smaller average declines than last year and some recharge in Central Kansas (GMD 5) after favorable summer precipitation; western GMDs (GMDs 4, 1 and 3) remain in decline and have low natural recharge rates.
Cabas described measurement methods (steel tape measurements, index wells) and explained why some wells are temporarily unmeasurable (active irrigation or access problems) and are revisited in February–March. He said the program uses about 37 index wells to capture high‑frequency drawdown dynamics while the…
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