Water recharge

Dear Editor,

After reading the "Missing springs" article in the Sept. 24 issue of the Gazette, and looking at the illustration of the tank, gravel and water, I think he left out an item -- a source of recharge.

Let me explain with some of my observed facts from my farm, located at T1, Rg. 30, Sec. 34. The exact depth of the well is 220 feet, with 7 feet of water.

That has never changed, even in the drought years of the 1930s.

I always erroneously thought it was fed by the river level of water. In later years, I acquired an aircraft altimeter which I put in my pickup. I finally noticed that the river was over 100 feet lower than the well water level.

Water doesn't run uphill, so the aquifer is fed from other unknown sources. Underground water slowly moves from west to east, so it is not stagnant.

I do not doubt Mr. Forch's contention that pumping affects springs. I am convinced there is a recharge system, maybe from the mountains. I don't know, maybe geologists can figure it out.

Cloyd Peters,

McCook