LAWRENCE, Kan. - Crews from the Kansas Geological Survey will be in western Kansas in early January to measure groundwater levels in more than 500 wells. The work is part of the survey's efforts to track changes in the depth of the region's aquifers. 
     The University of Kansas said in a news release that crews will work near Colby, Goodland, Syracuse and Liberal during the first week of January. The state's Division of Water Resources will measure water levels in nearly 900 more wells in the central and western park of the state.
     The monitoring focuses on the massive High Plains aquifer system, which consists largely of the Ogallala aquifer. The data is used by landowners, state and federal agencies, local groundwater management districts, private entities and the general public.