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Groundwater potentiometric decline in the Springfield, Missouri area

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

The decline of the potentiometric surface of the Ozark aquifer underneath Springfield Missouri intensified during the 1980s and has been of concern since. From 1990 to the present, the shifting of population from urban to rural areas and water management changes to use more surface water created an opportunity for groundwater levels to recover. However, in 2002 private well owners reported low levels and water problems, which prompted mapping the new cone of depression. To this purpose, well data measured from private wells and data available elsewhere were mapped using GIS mapping tools. The results show a cone of depression extending towards the recently developed areas south of Springfield while the potentiometric levels of some areas within the city had recovered. The maps show that, compared to the 1987 conditions, the present cone of depression has changed significantly in extent and shape while its maximum depth has changed only slightly.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks and the City Utilities of Springfield for guidance and for the use of their Echometer and Sonic Levelmeter instruments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Geology and Planning, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, 65897, USA

    D. Dintelmann, M. Gutiérrez & D. Gouzie

Authors
  1. D. Dintelmann
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  2. M. Gutiérrez
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  3. D. Gouzie
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Correspondence to M. Gutiérrez.

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Dintelmann, D., Gutiérrez, M. & Gouzie, D. Groundwater potentiometric decline in the Springfield, Missouri area. Environ Geol 50, 541–549 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0231-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0231-3

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