Newest groundwater report shows several pockets of decline

Several areas in Nebraska saw groundwater levels decline between spring 2024 and spring 2025, according to a new report from the Conservation and Survey Division at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Researchers found that groundwater levels across 4,695 wells in Nebraska recorded an average decline of 0.29 feet, and 62% of measured wells saw less groundwater in spring 2025 compared to their measurements in spring 2024. About 25% of all measured wells lost more than a foot of groundwater.

The Panhandle saw some of the biggest declines – with some wells losing 10 to 15 feet of groundwater. But other areas saw decreases, too, including southwestern, north-central, south-central and southeastern parts of the state. Some of the largest year-to-year decreases were recorded in Box Butte, Holt, Lincoln and Gage counties.

Researchers generally recorded water-level declines where precipitation values were below the long-term average, such as the Panhandle, north-central Nebraska and southeastern Nebraska. The report said about 105 sites that were measured recorded less precipitation than the 30-year average.

Parts of Scotts Bluff and Banner counties saw less than 60% of normal precipitation. Hooker, McPherson, Knox, Antelope, Saline and Thayer counties also suffered from less-than-normal precipitation.

Several counties, including Box Butte, Chase, Perkins and Dundee, have wells that are losing about a foot of groundwater a year. Geologist Aaron Young, who helped put together the groundwater report, said some of those wells were drilled decades ago and generally, were not drilled deep enough to account for this decline. New, deeper wells may need to be installed to ensure the well can still produce.

The northeast primarily saw groundwater gains between spring 2024 and spring 2025. Areas near the Platte, Elkhorn and Missouri rivers benefitted from groundwater growth, including in Dawson, Merrick, Nance, Butler, Wayne, Burt and Washington counties.

Though Nebraska has benefited from sporadic periods of rainfall over the last few years, much of the state has trended drier. The most recent update from the National Drought Mitigation Center shows about 98% of the state is now in at least a moderate drought. 43% of the state is now in extreme drought – almost double the 22% from the previous week.

The current dry conditions may be reflected in the CSD’s report next year.