For decades, High Plains Underground Water Conservation District (HPWD) has made a series of county-based hydrologic atlases available to constituents. Information previously presented in these atlases is now offered as a digital layer on HPWD’s interactive map feature (map.hpwd.org).

 “This layer provides groundwater information contained in three of the four contour maps contained in the old hydrologic atlases.  HPWD stopped printing them a few years ago, but there have been requests to include this information as a layer on the interactive map feature,” said Field Staff Supervisor Keith Whitworth.  He oversees the District’s annual water level measurement program.

 Persons using the map feature can select three layers located on the atlas pull-down menu. Each one can be toggled on and off as needed.

 The first digital layer (blue contour) illustrates the approximate altitude of the water table (2019) in 20-foot intervals.

 The second layer (green contour) shows the approximate saturated thickness of the Ogallala Formation (2019) in 10-foot intervals.

 The last layer (yellow contour) shows the base of the Ogallala Formation in 20-foot intervals.

 Chapter 36.106 of the Texas Water Code states that water conservation districts may make surveys of the groundwater reservoir or subdivision in order to determine the quantity of water available for production. 

 “The original hydrologic atlases were published in 1981 using data prepared as part of HPWD’s participation with the Texas Department of Water Resources in the U.S. Geological Survey’s study of the Ogallala Aquifer,” said General Manager Jason Coleman, P.E.  The printed atlases were updated every 5 to 10 years using data from HPWD’s water level observation well network.

 “These digital layers provide a quick depiction of groundwater data for areas of interest in the 16-county HPWD service area. The HPWD Board of Directors and staff are pleased to make this information available on the website,” said Coleman.