Box Butte County

Predevelopment water levels used to develop the groundwater change map in Box Butte County are the approximate average water levels prior to 1946.  Intensive groundwater development for irrigation in Box Butte County since 1950 has caused water levels to decline 5 to 86 feet from the predevelopment levels in an area of approximately 434,000 acres.  A lake was created in the 50's to store water (Box Butte Reservoir) but it is drained extensively in the summer months for irrigation so little recharge is seen with the Reservoir unlike other reservoirs in the state.