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The investigation here reported, which covered a period of about 5 years, 1929 to 1933, was made for the purpose of determining the available supply of ground water in south-central Nebraska, the origin and discharge of the ground water, and the relation of the geologic and ground-water conditions in the Platte River Valley to the conditions occurring under the plains to the south. The area was found to be underlain by permeable Pleistocene and Tertiary sand .and gravel, much of which is saturated and yields relatively large quantities of water to wells. Except in a few isolated places the ground-water supply is abundant. The Pleistocene and Tertiary formations were found in many places to be continuous across the area, but they thin out and disappear near the southern and southeastern boundary of the area. A part of the ground water occurring in south-central Nebraska percolates into the area from the sand-hill region of north-central Nebraska through the permeable water-bearing formations. Ground water is also derived from precipitation on the area and from seepage from streams entering the area from the west and northwest. Some of the ground water of the area is discharged into streams, especially in the southern and eastern parts of the area, and some ground water is used by plants, chiefly in the valleys of the streams. Almost all the public, domestic, industrial, and stock water supplies of the area are derived from wells, and in the Platte River Valley about 800 wells are used for irrigation. There are also irrigation wells in the valleys of other streams, and a few irrigation wells have been drilled on the plains. The investigation leads to the conclusion that for most parts of the area the ground-water supply is ample to furnish the present needs. Evidence indicates "that further development of irrigation with water pumped from wells can be made in the Platte Valley and in some of the valleys of the smaller streams. Additional irrigation wells can be drilled on the plains to the south, but because the ground-water supply in that area is limited chiefly to percolation from the Platte Valley, the development of large irrigation projects depending on wells is not feasible. INTRODUCTION By A. L. LUGN and L. K. WENZEL PURPOSE AND NEED OF THE INVESTIGATION This report embodies the results of several years of investigation of the water resources of an area of about 10,000 square miles in southcentral Nebraska, with special reference to the part of the Platte 1 2 GEOLOGY AND GROUND WATER, SOUTH-CENTRAL NEBRASKA River Valley between Chapman and Gothenburg, comprising about 1,300 square miles. (See fig. 1.) The almost universal use of ground water for domestic, municipal, and industrial supplies in the area and the increasing development of irrigation with water pumped from wells in the part of the Platte River Valley under consideration made it imperative that a better understanding of the geology and hydrology of the valley and adjoining areas, as they affect replenishment, loss, and storage of ground water, should be obtained without further delay. Moreover, there is a possibility that irrigation with water pumped from deep wells on the upland plains of south-central Nebraska may become feasible in the future, and for this reason a detailed knowledge of the water-bearing sand and gravel deposits under these plains is needed. More nearly complete utilization of the surface waters of the State, including both normal flow and flood discharge, has been under way for many years under the administration of the State Bureau of Irrigation, Water Power, and Drainage. Expansion of this work and even fuller utilization of all surface water is now in prospect. It has therefore become increasingly necessary to understand the relations between the surface waters and the ground waters in the Platte River Valley and adjoining areas. The effect of present and proposed diversions of surface water above North Platte on the ground-water replenishment in the valley below North Platte has become a problem of great practical significance. If further diversions are to be made especially to areas from which a return underflow to the Platte River Valley cannot be expected it is necessary to determine the effects that such diversions will have on the ground-water supply and the need for allowing surface water to flow past North Platte, in the natural channel of the river, in order to maintain the natural ground-water level in the valley. This problem is complicated by the percolation of water from the Platte River Valley through strata of sand and gravel that underlie the upland plains into the drainage systems of the Republican, Big Blue, and Little Blue Rivers. It is hoped that the data presented in this report will aid in the solution of these important problems relating to the water resources of the State. HISTORY OF THE INVESTIGATION The investigation on which this report is based was begun by the Nebraska State Geological Survey, G. E. Condra, State geologist, in 1929, and A. L. Lugn was assigned to the project. During the field season of that year attention was devoted mainly to the Platte River Valley and the northern part of the upland plain to the south. Geologic sections were measured, water-level altitudes determined, and well logs tabulated. Field work was continued along the same

Geology and ground-water resources of south-central Nebraska, with special reference to the Platte River Valley between Chapman and Gothenburg