Groundwater Monitoring

Groundwater monitoring data collected by the OWRB provide ongoing water level observation and chemical analyses of Oklahoma's aquifers, which are susceptible to declining levels due to drought and local depletion as well as pollution by sources that can be extremely challenging to pinpoint and expensive to remediate.

Groundwater Monitoring & Assessment Program

Groundwater sampling is conducted on a network of approximately 750 wells in Oklahoma's 21 major aquifers. Sampling occurs in both a baseline monitoring network and a long-term (trend) monitoring network within each major aquifer. Multiple assessments of water levels and chemistry facilitate the recognition of seasonal changes, changes due to climate variability, and/or changes due to usage over time. Additionally, a select number of wells are equipped with water level data loggers to monitor changes on the scale of weeks, days, or even hours.

GMAP Data and Analysis by Aquifer

LMFO Well Monitoring in Partnership with the ODAFF

Since 2001, the OWRB has been conducting groundwater monitoring for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) as part of its oversight of Licensed Managed Feeding Operations (LMFOs).

OWRB staff collect groundwater samples from select LMFO monitoring wells and submit them to the ODAFF’s laboratory for analysis of potential contamination of groundwater, signaled through high nitrate-nitrogen concentrations, high ammonium-nitrogen concentrations, or sample analyses containing three or more fecal coliform colonies. Quarterly and annual reports of findings are submitted by OWRB staff.