Groundwater
Upper Solomon
The Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) and the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources (KDA-DWR) cooperatively measures groundwater levels in the Upper North and South Forks of the Solomon River subbasin annually. There are additional wells monitored through the Subbasin Water Resource Management Program (SWRMP). There are a total of 110 monitoring wells used for these measurements. The monitoring wells were drilled in two aquifer systems, the Ogallala-High Plains and the alluvial aquifers, and are plotted separately on the hydrologic charts. The wells are monitored on a tri-annual basis in the winter, spring and fall. Only the winter measurements (December, January and February) are used for the Groundwater Level Charts because those are considered to be the least affected by groundwater pumping.
Lower Solomon
The Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources (KDA-DWR) Subbasin Water Resources Management Program (SWRMP) measure groundwater levels in the Lower North and South Forks of the Solomon River subbasin. There are 37 monitoring wells used for these measurements. The monitoring wells were drilled in the alluvial aquifer system. The wells are monitored on a tri-annual basis in winter, spring and fall. Only the winter measurements (December to February) are used for the Groundwater Level Charts as they are considered to be the least affected by groundwater pumping.
Mainstem Solomon
The Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources (KDA-DWR), Subbasin Water Resource Management Program (SWRMP) measures groundwater levels in the mainstem of the Solomon River subbasin. There are 11 monitoring wells used for these measurements and were drilled in the alluvial aquifer system. The wells are monitored on a tri-annual basis in winter, spring and fall. Only the winter measurements (December-February) are used for the Groundwater Level Charts because those are considered to be the least affected by groundwater pumping.