Where the water is pumped

The "Acres using x Acre Inches" graph shows how many acres used how many inches of water.  The two graphs are for 2003 pumping.  The huge image referenced below, showing water pumped by cell,  is for year 2000 pumping according to the Model.   We wish we had access to comparable year data but getting data from the NRD or the DNR is very difficult to do.  Most requests for information are ignored.  The two small graphs shown here use actual meter data for 2003.

Information for URNRD

This graph shows the acre inches farmers used over a 13.5 inch allocation.  The gray area below the 0 axis shows how much water was not used, but legally could have been used, by farmers using less than 13.5.  The volume above the 0 axis is the amount of carryover that was consumed in the 2003.  The volume below the 0 axis shows those farmers building carryover.

Water pumped by cell in year 2000 according to the RRCA Model

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We do not know the data source for the Model.  All we know is these are numbers the Model uses to determine the effect on the stream.  This information could easily be compared to actual meter data but the current URNRD is not interested in making sure the Model is as accurate as possible.  I don't mean that maliciously; I am simply stating that the URNRD board and management is not interested in looking at this data, does not use this data, and obstructs access to this data. The board prefers to rely on the DNR to tell it what it must do without bothering with the details.  

Formula for converting acre feet to inches used per acre.  Choose a number of irrigated acres per cell.  540 if a section sprinkler, 520 for 4 quarter pivots.  Remember these cells do not exactly overlay section lines.   Acre Feet divided by irrigated acres in cell multiplied by 12 = acre inches used per acre.   According to the Model there are several cells in Dundy county using 1459 acre feet in the year 2000.  Assume a section sprinkler.  (1459/520)*12 = 33.66 inches per acre.  This is much more water used than any set of meters have ever showed usage to be.  It is possible these include springs but the information is under the well section and springs are in a separate file.

Many of the cells in Northwest Chase county show large amounts of water being removed where there are no wells.  The reason to ask such questions is this is the tool that is used to determine how the economic future of hundreds of families' lives.  It should be as accurate as possible.  The Model is massive.  It has data on over 50,000 cells.  It would be difficult to make sure everything in it is accurate; but when there are people like WaterClaim that are willing to help verify data for the Model, that support should be used rather than hated.