Oklahoma water researchers plan Ogallala aquifer study in March

 

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is reaching out to water well owners in the state as it begins research to determine the current groundwater availability of the Ogallala aquifer.

The Board announced it is conducting research for an upcoming study on the aquifer which will provide a new groundwater flow model for both the Ogallala-Panhandle and the Ogallala-Northwest aquifers in the state.

The water board’s announcement stated that a critical part of the state will be the collection of water level measurements from a wide array of well sites in the area. Scientists are seeking water well owners to allow them to collect the measures at their well site or sites throughout March of this year.

The staff indicate that the landowners will be able to observe the entire well sampling process which will take less than ten minutes once the researchers are on site.

After an instrument is lowered into the well that indicates when the probe has touched water, the test is concluded. The water measurement can be taken from most kinds of groundwater wells – domestic, irrigation, mining, or livestock wells.

To begin the process, participating well owners must first complete a permission form supplied by the OWRB.  The form helps the agency collect information about the specific well, and more importantly, it gives the landowner an opportunity to outline special instructions for OWRB staff.

Those interested in assisting with this groundwater research are encouraged to contact Jacob Hernandez at 405-530-8928 – jacob.hernandez@owrb.ok.gov, or Jason Shiever at 405-833-7004.