The Missouri Groundwater-level Observation Well Network The Missouri groundwater-level observation well network is a series of wells across the State of Missouri in which ground- water levels are monitored in real time and periodically. The wells monitor the water levels in multiple key aquifers, such as the Ozark aquifer in the Salem and Springfield Plateaus and the Mississippi Alluvial Plain aquifer in the South-eastern Lowlands. As of 2018, 150 real-time sites are operated as a cooperative effort between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS; fig. 1). This fact sheet describes the network and well data from the network. Spickard Warrensburg Wildwood Asbury EXPLANATION Real-time well Dissected Till Plains Physiographic region Osage Plains Salem Plateau Southeastern Lowlands Springfield Plateau St Francois Mountains Figure 1. Missouri groundwater-level observation well network and physiographic regions. Modified from Miller and Vandike, 1997. The MoDNR maintains the wells by regularly visiting each site. MoDNR personnel ensure that the equipment is operating properly and make manual water-level measurements to ensure that the data are accurate. MoDNR collects other well informa- tion, such as total depth, casing depth, stratigraphy, and lithol- ogy, and prepares figures that show water level in relation to aquifer thickness and well construction (fig. 2). Further informa- tion is available at https://dnr.mo.gov/geology/wrc/groundwater/ gwnetwork.htm. Data are transmitted from the wells by satellite and are available from the USGS National Water Information System on the world wide web in near real time. The USGS processes these data, making corrections and ensuring that real-time measure- ments agree with the manual water-level measurements. The USGS makes occasional manual water-level measurements at key sites. Statistics are computed so that recent groundwater levels can be compared to historical levels to assess trends. For example, statistics such as daily and monthly mean water levels and 25th and 75th percentiles computed for the observation well near Spickard, Mo., completed in the glacial drift aquifer show that 2016–17 water levels are among the highest in the 45 years of record for this site (fig. 3). Formation contacts and depths based on well log 29243 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Depth from surface, in feet 07/26/2012 07/26/2012 07/26/2012 Daily average water level in Springfield Plateau aquifer Daily average water level in Ozark aquifer Asbury Observation Wells Water-Level Hydrograph Western Interior Plains confining unit Springfield Plateau aquifer Ozark confining unit Ozark aquifer Soil Cherokee Group Warsaw Formation Elsey Formation Pierson Limestone Cotter Dolomite Jefferson City Dolomite Northview Formation Burlington– Keokuk Limestone Reeds Spring Formation 10’ 105’ 160’ 235’ 275’ 375’ 435’ 480’ 600’ Figure 2. Stratigraphy, well construction, and water levels for the paired wells at Asbury, Mo. Modified from Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 2018 (https://dnr.mo.gov/geology/wrc/ groundwater/strathydrographs/asbury_combined.pdf). Dark gray section of the well indicates casing interval and light gray section of the well indicates open interval. 401444093442001—Spickard Depth to water, in feet below land surface 0 5 10 15 Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. 2016–17 EXPLANATION < 10 10–24 25–75 76–90 > 90 Mean daily water level November 2016– October 2017 Mean monthly water level November 2016– October 2017 Percentile class Figure 3. Depth to water, mean monthly water levels, and mean daily water levels exceeding the 75th percentile of historical water levels for Spickard well, Mo., November 2016–October 2017. U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2019–3009 ver. 1.1, March 2019
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The Missouri Groundwater-level Observation Well NetworkThe Missouri groundwater-level observation well network
is a series of wells across the State of Missouri in which ground-water levels are monitored in real time and periodically. The wells monitor the water levels in multiple key aquifers, such as the Ozark aquifer in the Salem and Springfield Plateaus and the Mississippi Alluvial Plain aquifer in the South-eastern Lowlands. As of 2018, 150 real-time sites are operated as a cooperative effort between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS; fig. 1). This fact sheet describes the network and well data from the network.
Spickard
Warrensburg Wildwood
Asbury
EXPLANATION
Real-time well
Dissected Till PlainsPhysiographic region
Osage PlainsSalem PlateauSoutheastern LowlandsSpringfield PlateauSt Francois Mountains
Figure 1. Missouri groundwater-level observation well network and physiographic regions. Modified from Miller and Vandike, 1997.
The MoDNR maintains the wells by regularly visiting each site. MoDNR personnel ensure that the equipment is operating properly and make manual water-level measurements to ensure that the data are accurate. MoDNR collects other well informa-tion, such as total depth, casing depth, stratigraphy, and lithol-ogy, and prepares figures that show water level in relation to aquifer thickness and well construction (fig. 2). Further informa-tion is available at https://dnr.mo.gov/geology/wrc/groundwater/gwnetwork.htm.
Data are transmitted from the wells by satellite and are available from the USGS National Water Information System on the world wide web in near real time. The USGS processes these data, making corrections and ensuring that real-time measure-ments agree with the manual water-level measurements. The USGS makes occasional manual water-level measurements at key sites. Statistics are computed so that recent groundwater levels can be compared to historical levels to assess trends. For example, statistics such as daily and monthly mean water levels and 25th and 75th percentiles computed for the observation well near Spickard, Mo., completed in the glacial drift aquifer show that 2016–17 water levels are among the highest in the 45 years of record for this site (fig. 3).
Formation contacts anddepths based on well log
29243
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Dept
h fro
m s
urfa
ce, i
n fe
et
07/26/2012 07/26/2012 07/26/2012
Daily average water level in Springfield Plateau aquifer
Daily average water level in Ozark aquifer
Asbury Observation WellsWater-Level Hydrograph
Western Interior
Plainsconfining unit
Springfield Plateauaquifer
Ozarkconfining
unitOzark aquifer
Soil
CherokeeGroup
Warsaw Formation
Elsey Formation
Pierson Limestone
Cotter Dolomite
Jefferson CityDolomite
Northview Formation
Burlington–Keokuk Limestone
Reeds SpringFormation
10’
105’
160’
235’
275’
375’
435’
480’
600’
Figure 2. Stratigraphy, well construction, and water levels for the paired wells at Asbury, Mo. Modified from Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 2018 (https://dnr.mo.gov/geology/wrc/groundwater/strathydrographs/asbury_combined.pdf). Dark gray section of the well indicates casing interval and light gray section of the well indicates open interval.
401444093442001—Spickard
Dept
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n fe
et b
elow
land
sur
face
0
5
10
15
Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
2016–17
EXPLANATION
< 1010–2425–7576–90> 90
Mean daily water levelNovember 2016–October 2017
Mean monthly water levelNovember 2016–October 2017
Percentile class
Figure 3. Depth to water, mean monthly water levels, and mean daily water levels exceeding the 75th percentile of historical water levels for Spickard well, Mo., November 2016–October 2017.
U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey
Fact Sheet 2019–3009ver. 1.1, March 2019
Groundwater-level data have been recorded at some sites for more than 50 years. These long-term data are critical for understanding the aquifers in Missouri. Changes in groundwater levels can be affected by natural and human-induced factors. Natural factors include precipitation, changes in river stage, drought, earthquakes, barometric pressure changes, and tidal effects. Human-induced changes are generally related to the pumping of groundwater.
Parts of Missouri have an abundance of groundwater, whereas other areas lack a reliable groundwater source. Some wells in the network have had an overall decline (fig. 4) in water levels during the period of record, such as the well near Warrensburg, whereas some have had increases.
2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018Year
125
130
135
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145
150
155
Daily
dep
th to
wat
er le
vel,
in fe
et b
elow
land
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640
635
630
625
620
615
Grou
ndw
ater
leve
l, in
feet
ab
ove
NAV
D 88
EXPLANATION
Daily mean depth to water level Period of approved data
Period of provisional data
Figure 4. Hydrograph showing groundwater-level decline at the Ozark aquifer well at Warrensburg, Mo.
Groundwater is one of Missouri’s most valuable natural resources (Miller and Vandike, 1997). Many municipalities rely on groundwater as their primary source of water, and more than one-third of the approximately 797 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) withdrawn in 2015 for public supply in Missouri was from groundwater sources (Dieter and others, 2018). Ground-water is critical for tens of thousands of rural residents, and self-supplied domestic groundwater withdrawal was approximately 57.5 Mgal/d in 2015. Groundwater is important for many other industries in the State, such as agriculture, mining, and power generation (Dieter and others, 2018).
Figure 5. Pivot irrigation in the Missouri Bootheel in the southeastern part of the State (left). Farmer inspecting the effects of drought on crops (right), photograph by Kelly L. Warner, USGS.
Agriculture, the largest industry in Missouri, depends on groundwater. During 2015, approximately 1,300 Mgal/d of groundwater was withdrawn for irrigation, and 16.1 Mgal/d was withdrawn for livestock (Dieter and others, 2018). Agriculture can be greatly affected by droughts (fig. 5), and the observation well network is valuable in assessing the effect and severity of droughts on groundwater supply. During the 2012 drought, many wells in the network, such as the Ozark aquifer well at Wild-wood, had a decline in water levels (fig. 6).
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016Year
170
180
190
200
210
220
Daily
dep
th to
wat
er le
vel,
in fe
et b
elow
land
sur
face
510
500
490
480
470
460
Grou
ndw
ater
leve
l, in
feet
ab
ove
NAV
D 88
EXPLANATION
Daily mean depth to water level Period of approved data
2012 Drought water-level decline
Figure 6. Hydrograph showing groundwater-level decline during the 2012 drought in the Ozark aquifer well at Wildwood, Mo.
References Cited
Dieter, C.A., Maupin, M.A., Caldwell, R.R., Harris, M.A., Ivahnenko, T.I., Lovelace, J.K., Barber, N.L., and Linsey, K.S., 2018, Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1441, 65 p. [Also available at https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1441.]
Miller, D.E., and Vandike, J.E., 1997, Groundwater resources of Missouri, in Missouri State Water Plan Series: Rolla, Mo., Geological Survey and Resource Assessment, Water Resources Report Number 46, v. II, 210 p. [Also available at https://dnr.mo.gov/pubs/WR46.pdf.]
Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 2018, Asbury Observation Wells: Rolla, Mo., 1 p.
By David C. Smith
For more information concerning this publication, contact:
Director, Central Midwest Water Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey1400 Independence Road, MS-100Rolla, MO 65401(573) 308-3667
Or visit the Missouri Water Science Center Web site at: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/cm-water
Scott Kaden, R.G.Groundwater Section ChiefMissouri Geological Survey–Water Resources CenterP.O. Box 250Rolla, MO 65402Phone: (573) 368-2194Fax: (573) 368-2193
Or visit the Missouri Department of Natural Resources site at: https://dnr.mo.gov/
ISSN 2327–6916 (print)ISSN 2327–6932 (online)https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20193009
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