The Cross Section, Volume 16, Number 2, February 1970 Page: 1
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Volume 16---No. 2 "THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER"
OBSERVATION WELL RECORDS .. .
THE ANNUAL WATER STATEMENT, 1969-1910During January and February
1970, personnel of the High Plains
Underground Water Conservation Dis-
trict No. 1 and the Texas Water De-
velopment Board measured the depths
to water in "observation" wells within
the District. The 1969 and 1970
depths to water below land surface
measurements made in observation
wells in Castro, Floyd, Lubbock and
Parmer Counties, and those wells in
the District in Armstrong, Bailey,
Cochran, Crosby, Deaf Smith, Hale,
Hockley, Lamb, Lynn, Potter, and
Randall Counties; and the change
(Decline 1969-1970) in the water level
during 1969; are presented in the
tables on pages 2 through 7. The lo-
cations of the wells listed in the tables
are shown on the accompanying maps.
The tables on pages 2 through 7
also show the average decline per
year for each well. This average
value represents the 1962 depth to
water measurement subtracted from
the 1970 depth to water measurement,
and the difference divided by the num-
ber of intervening years (8). In the
event a 1962 and/or 1970 measure-
ment is not available, the average val-
ue represents the difference between
the earliest (after 1962) and latest
available measurement, divided by the
number of intervening years. Plus
signs (+) indicate a rise in the water
level.
VALIDITY OF MEASUREMENTS
The depths to water, as listed in
the tables, were taken directly from
field measurement records. If the
individual measuring a well did not
note any circumstance or condition
that would reflect upon the authen-
ticity of the water-level measurement,
1Ithe measurement was listed as report-
ed. No attempt was made to screen
(to disregard apparently erroneous
water-level measurements) these data.
However, it is apparent that a limited
number of such measurements are not
representative of the static water level
in the well to which the measurement
was accredited.
EVALUATING MEASUREMENTS
It is very difficult, even for an ex-
perienced hydrologist, to judge the
validity of water-level measurements.
In the past, the District has em-
ployed a combination of several meth-
ods to judge the authenticity of water-
level records. Most of these study
routines employ the use of digital
computers, however, the ultimate ac-
ceptance or rejection of a water-level
record has always been a judgement
decision. Such judgements are usual-
ly made in anticipation of the use of
these data in a model, as a part of
the District's cost-in-water-depletion,
income-tax allowance program, or
other anayltical uses.
In an effort to develop machine de-
terminable, judgement criteria for the
1969 and 1970 depth to water meas-
urments, the "standard deviation" has
been calculated for each annual
change in water level in each well
from 1962 through 1970. These val-
ues are also listed in the tables on
pages 2 through 7.
The standard deviation values rep-
resent the disagreement that was, on1962
County Measured
Armstrong 8
Bailey 41
Castro 45
Cochran 46
Crosby 10
Deaf Smith 61
Floyd 89
Hale 16
Hockley 36
Lamb 36
Lubbock 100
Lynn 29
Parmer 48
Potter 0
Randall 12No. of Wells Depth to Water (Feet)
Mm. Max. Avg.
95.48 124.90 110.50
25.11 142.72 67.22
52.64 224.41 143.71
55.40 176.66 128.14
116.48 179.34 151.60
52.25 286.40 137.66
37.29 264.96 156.08
69.70 151.60 110.79
34.64 178.60 109.68
28.13 147.10 97.76
12.82 194.70 111.86
25.89 133.73 81.97
123.35 306.14 202.89
123.30 187.97 156.53the average, common to every an-
nual change in water level for each
well, when compared to the average
annual change in the depth to water
in that well.
A large standard deviation indicates
a very large randomness in the an-
nual decline or rise of the water level
in that well. In other words, the
depth to water records for this well
probably do not follow a given or
definable pattern, which would be
strong evidence of erroneous water-
level data. A small standard devia-
tion indicates that the depth to water
in the subject well follows a definite
(smooth) pattern; in most cases a
steady decline of the water table.
EXAMPLE OF ANALYSIS
The following examples show how
the standard devaition value can be
used to determine the authenticity of
the 1969-1970 change in water level.
Assuming a well wherein the 1969-
1970 decline was 2.10 feet, while the
average annual decline from 1962
through 1970 was 1.65 feet per year,
and the standard deviation is 2.56;
then the average decline plus the stan-
dard deviation (1.65 + 2.56) is 4.21,
and the 1969-1970 decline of 2.10
feet is within this range, therefore this
decline, and the 1969 and 1970 meas-
urements, can probably be accepted as
authentic and representative.
However, for a well wherein the
1969-1970 decline was 6.75 feet,
while the average decline and stan-No. of Wells
Measured
9
61
61
53
15
71
94
15
75
71
114
28
58
4
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rr II.MA Monthly Publication of the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1
February, 1970
1970
Depth to Water (Feet)
Mm. Max. Avg.
107.56 151.14 128.81
19.51 143.34 82.39
110.55 266.52 173.84
72.17 195.11 139.36
128.05 208.46 183.91
58.50 310.99 170.36
52.90 297.75 190.30
80.86 182.94 130.66
37.98 195.88 125.36
32.76 189.92 111.91
3.53 193.73 124.74
27.10 147.13 89.02
149.20 325.81 235.69
193.53 217.94 209.30
96.96 223.10 166.49dard deviation are 1.60 and 4.10 feet
respectively (for a sum of 5.70); the
1969-1970 decline exceeds this range,
and the 1969 and/or 1970 depth to
water measurement should not be con-
sidered authentic, without further
analysis.
It must be noted that the use of the
standard deviation as presented is not
a fool-proof method of judging water-
level data. The final analysis must
still be a judgment decision, which can
only be made after consideration of
numerous other controlling factors.
The standard deviation values are in-
cluded herein only as a guide to the
users of these data.
SUMMARY OF RECORDS
The table, "Summary of Water-
Level Measurements," shows the min-
imum and maximum depths to water
-continued on page 8
AVERAGE DECLINE OF WATER TABLE
Average Decline Average Decline (ft.)
ft. 1962-1970
County 1969-1970 or for Period of Record
Armstrong 3.25 2.17
Bailey + 3.88 1.40
Castro 2.62 3.36
Cochran 04.48 1.12
Crosby 4.96 3.66
Deaf Smith 2.01 3.31
Floyd 2.77 3.46
Hale +0.20 2.81
Hockley 0.17 1.29
Lamb 0.29 1.90
Lubbock 0.12 1.51
Lynn +1.91 .80
Parmer 4.91 4.02
Potter +0.52 2.56
Randall 0.06 2.044SUMMARY OF WATER LEVEL MEASUREMENTS
r__
Dan Seale, measuring the depth to
water in a typical observation well.Shaurbet Appointed
Chairman
Governor Preston Smith appointed
Marvin Shurbet, Petersburg, Texas,
Chairman of the five member Board
of Directors of the Texas Water De-
velopment Board, on February 10,
1970.
Mr. Shurbet was elected the direc-
tor for Precinct 5 of the High Plains
Underground Water Conservation
District's Board of Directors in Janu-
ary 1954. He was the President of
the District's Board when he resigned
to acept the appointment, by Gover-
nor Daniels, as one of the original
Members of the Texas Water Devel-
opment Board in 1957.
Marvin, and his wife Mildred, were
the principal litigants of the now fa-
mous, Shurbet vs United States of
-continued on page 8WATER RESOURCES & IRRIGATION SYMPOSIUM
RED RAIDER CONVENTION CENTER, LUBBOCK, TEXAS
MARCH 31 & APRIL 1, 1970
For additional information write: Symposium Committee
Drawer 1830
Lubbock, Texas 79408
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High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 (Tex.). The Cross Section, Volume 16, Number 2, February 1970, periodical, February 1970; Lubbock, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1532939/m1/1/?q=%22~1%22~1&rotate=270: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.