Hydrogeologic considerations for an interstate ground-water compact on the Madison aquifer, northern Great Plains

Leonard F. Konikow

doi:10.3133/ofr78138

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Hydrogeologic considerations for an interstate ground-water compact on the Madison aquifer, northern Great Plains

Leonard F. Konikow

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Abstract

The development of an interstate ground-water compact for the Madison aquifer in the Northern Great Plains may provide a framework to allocate equitably this large ground-water resource while avoiding possible future interstate legal conflicts. However, some technical problems will have to be resolved first. A compact designed to regulate or to allocate the available ground water will have to be written in very precise, legally acceptable definitions. The required definitions may infer a degree of measurement accuracy that cannot be technically or economically provided. Therefore, a trade off may be required between preserving natural conditions and allowing beneficial use of the ground-water resource.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 42.48° to 49° latitude; -115° to -99.98° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Leonard F. Konikow. 1978. Hydrogeologic considerations for an interstate ground-water compact on the Madison aquifer, northern Great Plains. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr78138

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