Golden City Observation Well

Well Owner: City of Golden City (Old Well #1)

Location: SE 1/4 SW 1/4 Sec. 26, T. 31 N, R. 29 W

Barton County

Period of record: 1996 to present

Land surface elevation: 1,060 feet (approximately)

Date installed: February 28, 1996

Date drilled: February 10, 1937

Well log number: 4,142

Water level when drilled: 155 feet

Total depth: 893 feet

Casing: 400 feet of 8-inch diameter steel casing, pressure grouted

Producing aquifer: Ozark Aquifer

Formations open to production: Jefferson City Dolomite, and Roubidoux Formation

In the mid 1990s, Golden City officials became concerned about groundwater levels after several new agricultural irrigation wells were drilled in the rural area surrounding the town. Agricultural irrigation has been practiced in this area for 30 years or more, but until then relatively few deep irrigation wells had been drilled near Golden City.

Golden City well #1 was converted to Golden City observation well on February 28, 1996, when a digital water-level recorder was installed on the inactive public water supply well. Data collected by the observation well during the succeeding years shows that groundwater level fluctuates about 5 to 8 feet on a daily basis due to pumping by Golden City at its other two wells. However, during the two to three month irrigation season, water level can decline 60 to 80 feet. Water level typically recovers to pre-irrigation season levels after several months. Water level in this well during most of the year is about 220 to 230 feet, or about 65 to 75 feet deeper than when the well was drilled 1n 1937.