Spatial data set of mapped water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer, predevelopment (about 1950) to 2017 and 2015 to 2017

The High Plains aquifer underlies 111.8 million acres (about 175,000 square miles) in parts of eight States—Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Water-level declines began in parts of the High Plains aquifer soon after the beginning of substantial irrigation with groundwater in the aquifer area (about 1950). This data release contains the data used to map water-level changes and change in recoverable water in storage in the High Plains aquifer from predevelopment (about 1950) to 2017 and from 2015 to 2017. This study was funded by the USGS Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program.