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…