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Research about Kansas

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Kansas.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
USGS1981

Saline ground-water discharge to the Smoky Hill River between Salina and Abilene, central Kansas

Saline water discharges from the alluvial aquifer into the Smoky Hill and Solomon Rivers between New Cambria and Sand Springs, Kansas. During relatively stable base flow in 1976-77, the discharge was about 32 cubic feet per second. Chloride concentrations at base flow increased about 800 milligrams per liter in the Smoky Hill River and 550 milligrams per liter in the Solomon River. The source of the saline water is the underlying Wellington aquifer, a zone of dissolution, subsidence, and collapse along the eastern margin of the Wellington Formation. Locally, brine from the aquifer moves upward through collapse structures in the confining layer at the base of the alluvium. The brine discharge ranges from 0.3 to 0.8 cubic foot per second, and the chloride load ranges from 150 to 370 tons per day. Results from a mathematical model of the fl ow system indicated that recharge from periodic flooding, as in 1973, was sufficient to reverse the normal (197677) hydraulic gradient between aquifers. Although brine discharge was temporarily reduced, saline-water discharge to the rivers increased. The discharge of brine could be intercepted by pumping wells completed in the Wellington aquifer to lower the potentiometric head and reduce upward flow. The intercepted brine could be discharged into formations underlying the area at depth or piped to a storage reservoir from which the brine would be evaporated or released to the rivers during peak flows. Also, the freshwater in upstream base flow could be diverted by canal, and the saline-water discharge could be retained by low-head dams in the river channel for release during peak flows.

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USGS1981

Selected hydrologic relationships for Soldier Creek, northeastern Kansas

Hydrologic data from Soldier Creek basin were compared with relations from statewide data. The quantity and quality of streamflow were affected mostly by soils, slopes, and land use. Average annual precipitation during the study (196476) was 35.12 inches, or 2.3 percent greater than the long-term (1929-76) average. The average streamflow in Soldier Creek at Topeka, Kansas, was 23 percent greater than the long-term average. In general, frequency curves of annual peak discharges compared poorly with curves from statewide relations due to the absence of extremely low peaks during the short period. A comparison of low-flow frequency for drainage areas of more than 100 square miles indicated that reasonable results will not be obtained for estimates of 7-day and 30-day average annual minimum discharges by linear extrapolation to basins of less than 100 square miles. Comparison of flow-duration curves confirms the extrapolation for basins of less than 100 square miles, although the percentage duration of mean flow is variable. Water surveys showed that calcium, bicarbonate, and sulfate were the predominant ions and dissolved solids were derived mostly from limestones and shales. Suspended sediment at gaged sites ranged from 9.94 to 848 tons per day; yield per unit area increased significantly between sites due to changes in hillside slopes and land use.

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USGS1981

Hydrology and model of North Fork Solomon River Valley, Kirwin Dam to Waconda Lake, north-central Kansas

The alluvial valley of the North Fork Solomon River is an important agricultural area. Reservoir releases diverted below Kirwin Dam are the principal source of irrigation water. During the 1970'S, severe water shortages occurred in Kirwin Reservoir and other nearby reservoirs as a result of an extended drought. Some evidence indicates that surface-water shortages may have been the result of a change in the rainfall-runoff relationship. Examination of the rainfall-runoff relationship shows no apparent trend from 1951 to 1968, but annual records from 1969 to 1976 indicate that deficient rainfall occurred during 6 of the 8 years. Ground water from the alluvial aquifer underlying the river valley also is used extensively for irrigation. Utilization of ground water for irrigation greatly increased from about 200 acre-feet in 1955 to about 12,300 acre-feet in 1976. Part of the surface water diverted for irrigation has percolated downward into the aquifer raising the ground-water level. Ground-water storage in the aquifer increased from 230,000 acre-feet in 1946 to 275,000 acre-feet in 1976-77. A digital model was used to simulate the steady-state conditions in the aquifer prior to closure of Kirwin Dam. Model results indicated that precipitation was the major source of recharge to the aquifer. The effective recharge, or gain from precipitation minus evapotranspiration, was about 11,700 acre-feet per year. The major element of discharge from the aquifer was leakage to the river. The simulated net leakage (leakage to the river minus leakage from the river) was about 11,500 acre-feet per year. The simulated value is consistent with the estimated gain in base flow of the river within the area modeled. Measurements of seepage used to determine gain and loss to the stream were made twice during 1976. Based on these measurements and on base-flow periods identified from hydrographs, it was estimated that the ground-water discharge to the stream has increased about 4,000 acre-feet per year from 1946 to 1976. During the same period, ground water withdrawn from the aquifer increased 12,100 acre-feet per year. Hydrographs of water levels in wells indicate some withdrawal from aquifer storage during 1976, possibly as a combined result of below-normal rainfall and greatly increased pumpage. The analysis of data is inconclusive as to whether the aquifer can sustain increased groundwater development. However, the analysis does indicate that the aquifer could sustain withdrawals at the 1976 rate for several consecutive years of drought similar to the 1976 conditions.

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USGS1980

Geohydrology of southwestern Kansas

Southwestern Kansas is one of the principal areas of ground-water development for irrigation in the State, and many reports are available concerning ground-water conditions in the area. The purposes of this investigation were to consolidate and update data, to determine the extent and effects of irrigation development on the ground-water resource, to determine the chemical quality of the ground water in relation to irrigation use, to describe the general operation of the hydrologic system, and to identify problem areas where intensive quantitative studies will be needed by State and local agencies for planning and management of the resource. This study began in 1972 as part of a cooperative program of ground-water investigations between the Kansas Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey. Support in this study was provided by the Division of Water Resources of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture and the Division of Environment of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

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USGS1980

Statistical summaries of water-quality data for streams draining coal-mined areas, southeastern Kansas

Summaries of descriptive statistics are compiled for 14 data-collection sites located on streams draining areas that have been shaft mined and strip mined for coal in Cherokee and Crawford Counties in southeastern Kansas. These summaries include water-quality data collected from October 1976 through April 1979. Regression equations relating specific conductance and instantaneous streamflow to concentrations of bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, silica, and dissolved solids are presented.

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USGS1980

A procedure for predicting concentrations of dissolved solids and sulfate ion in streams draining areas strip mined for coal

Current trends in increased coal production neccessitate the development of techniques to appraise the environmental degradation that results from strip mining. A procedure is introduced for the prediction of dissolved-solids and sulfate-ion concentrations in streams draining strip-mined areas as functions of the percentage of the drainage area that has been strip mined. These relationships are expressed by regression equations computed from data collected in streams draining strip-mined areas of Cherokee and Crawford Counties in southeast Kansas.

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USGS1980

January 1980 water levels, and data related to water-level changes, western and south-central Kansas

This report contains hydrologic data on water-level measurements in observation wells in western and south-central Kansas. The measurements were made in mid-winter, mostly in January, when pumping was minimal and water levels had recovered from the effects of pumping during the previous irrigation season. This report also provides basic hydrologic data for relating water-level changes from a "base-reference year" (pre-development year), a year of abnormally high rainfall and minimum pumpage (1966), and the previous year (1979). The "base-reference year" i s designated as 1950 for the northwestern and west-central areas, 1940 for the southwestern area, and 1944 for the south-central area. Water-level data in the south-central area also are compared with data for 1974. "Base-reference-year" water levels are based on measurements made during that year and on interpretation of water-table-contour maps. Tables in the report show the depths to water level in 1940, 1944, or 1950 (pre-development years), 1966, 1974, 1979, and 1980; water-level changes from 1940-80,1944-80,1950-80,1966-80,1974-80, and 1979-80; and the average annual changes from 1940-80, 1944-80, 1950-80, 1966-80, and 1974-80. Also shown are saturated thicknesses of the deposits in 1940, 1944, or 1950, and in 1980, as well as the percentage change in saturated thickness from 1940-80, 1944-80, or 1950-80. Maps in the report, drawn by digital plotter, show the location of observation wells where water-level measurements are made. The water-level rise or decline, 1979-80, is given to the nearest 0.01 foot; two values at the same location indicate separate wells in the same 10-acre tract. The annual water-level measurements are made by personnel of the Division of Water Resources of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture and of the U.S. Geological Survey. State-agency support for this program is provided through the Kansas Geological Survey. Wells in this report are numbered according to the Bureau of Land Manage- ment's system of land subdivision. In this system, the first set of digits of a well number indicates the township; the second set, the range east or west of the sixth principal meridian; and the third set, the section in which the well is situated. The first letter denotes the 160-acre tract within the section; the second, the 40-acre tract, and the third, the 10-acre tract. The letters, A, B, C, or D, are designated in a counterclockwise direction beginning in the northeast quadrant. Because there may be more than one well in a 10-acre tract, consecutive numbers, beginning with "1", are added in the order in which the data from the wells are collect. Explanation of geologic units in tables 1 and 2 are: QA, Quaternary alluvium; QU, undifferentiated Quaternary deposits; TO, Ogallala Formation; KN, Niobrara Formation; KU, undifferentiated Lower Cretaceous rocks; KJ, undiffer-rentiated Lower Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic rocks.

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USGS1980

Simulated water-level declines near Marienthal, west-central Kansas

Intensive study in an area of 12-square miles near Marienthal, Kansas, has shown a decrease of 30 to 50 percent in saturated thickness of the Ogallala Formation since the development of irrigation. Projections from a digital model indicated the additional water-level declines that might occur from 1978 to 1989 if the pumpage in the model area was assumed to be one-half, equal to, or double the 1977 rate. The additional declines would range from 5 to 15 feet, 15 to 30 feet, and 25 to 40 feet, respectively. If pumpage only in the intensive-study area were assumed to be one-half or double the 1977 rate, water-level declines would range from 10 to 20 feet and from 20 to 25 feet, respectively. Reducing pumpage only in the intensive-study area could reduce the water-level declines locally. However, declines would be greatest near the edge of the area as a result of continued pumpage by wells outside the area boundary. The digital model was more sensitive to changes in pumpage than to changes in hydraulic conductivity, specific yield, and recharge.

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USGS1980

Geohydrology and model analysis for water-supply management in a small area of west-central Kansas

The Ogallala Formation in the intensive-study area, an area of 12 square miles in northeastern Wichita County, west-central Kansas, has had a substantial decrease in saturated thickness since the development of irrigation. The annual water-level decline during 1950-78 ranged from 1.08 to 2.22 feet per year. The hydrologic system was investigated to study methods of conserving the remaining ground water in the intensive-study area. During 1977-78, the average annual ground-water withdrawal was 7,400 acre-feet, and the water-level decline ranged from 0.91 to 5.05 feet. The saturated thickness in 1977 ranged from about 40 to 80 feet, and aquifer storage was about 61,000 acre-feet. Natural recharge is estimated to be 0.28 inch per year. Projections from a digital ground-water flow model were used to indicate the additional water-level decline that might occur from 1978 to 1988 if pumpages in the 480-square-mile model area were one-half, equal to, or double the 1977 pumpage rate. The additional water-level declines in the intensive-study area would range from 5 to 15 feet if pumpages were one-half, 15 to 30 feet if pumpages were equal to, and 25 to 40 feet if pumpages were double the 1977 rate. Projections also were used to indicate the water-level declines if pumpages in the model area were equal to the 1977 rate and if pumpages in the intensive-study area were one-half or double the 1977 rate. Additional water-level declines in the intensive-study area would range from 10 to 20 feet if pumpages were one-half and from 20 to 25 feet if pumpages were doubled. Decreased pumpage in the area could reduce the water-level declines, but continued pumpage in adjacent areas would cause declines to be greater near the edge than near the center. The digital model was more sensitive to changes in pumpage than to changes in hydraulic conductivity, specific yield, and recharge.

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USGS1979

Discharge of saltwater from Permian rocks to major stream-aquifer systems in central and south-central Kansas

Saline-water inflow from Permian rocks has resulted in the degradation of freshwater systems in several areas of central and south-central Kansas. Solution of evaporite beds has occurred along the eastern edge of the Wellington Formation, chiefly within the Hutchinson Salt Member and associated gypsum units. The solution, caused by leakage of freshwater primarily from overlying unconsolidated deposits, has resulted in formation of a discontinuous zone of solution cavities and collapsed beds. This zone, which extends southward from Salina to near Wellington, contains large quantities of saltwater and is termed the Wellington aquifer. The generalized potentiometric surface of the Wellington aquifer is determined from water-level measurements in observation wells and from digital model studies. A ground-water divide is indicated on this surface east of Hutchinson where the gradient slopes northward toward the Smoky Hill River valley and southeastward toward eastern Sumner County in the Arkansas River valley. The digital model and field evidence indicate that there are several major areas where the potentiometric surface of the Wellington aquifer is above the water table of the overlying freshwater deposits. This difference in head provides a mechanism for the upward leakage of saline water. Areas of saline-water encroachment to freshwater systems are near Belle Plaine, Adamsville, and Geuda Springs in south-central Kansas and in the Smoky Hill River valley east of Salina. Another area of possible saline-water contamination is southeast of Hutchinson. Owing to erosion of most of the intervening shale layers, the Wellington aquifer may be in hydraulic connection with the aquifer in the unconsolidated deposits. Regression analyses and measurements of seepage and salinity were used to determine the amount of saltwater discharge and chloride-load increase to the Arkansas River and its tributaries between Derby and Arkansas City during 1970-74. These analyses indicate that approximately 0.60 cubic foot per second of saltwater is entering the freshwater system in this area and that the average increase in chloride load is about 229 tons per day. Possible methods of alleviating saline-water intrusion include desalinization, dilution, evaporation, and diversion. Interception maybe accomplished by installation of wells in the Wellington aquifer or at the base of the unconsolidated deposits or by construction of collection systems at land surface in areas of seeps and springs. Following interception, possible methods of saline-water disposal include: (1) injection into the Arbuckle Group of Cambrian and Ordovician age, (2) dilution with freshwater in streams during high-flows, or (3) evaporation from surface ponds.

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USGS1979

Multiyear low flow in southeastern Kansas

Many existing water supplies in southeastern Kansas are proving inadequate to meet current and expanded future needs. One of the methods in which the use of highly variable streamflow in the area can be evaluated is with the aid of multiyear low-flow frequency information. Data from 19 stream-gaging stations in the study area and a base period of 1940-77 were used to develop maps from which discharge values for the 2- and 50-year recurrence interval for durations of 12, 24, 36, and 60 months can be obtained for ungaged sites that have drainage areas of less than 1,000 square miles. Discharge values for intervening recurrence intervals can be obtained by interpolation. Extrapolation of regionalized values in this report to drainage areas smaller than 110 square miles and larger than 1,000 square miles has not been validated.

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USGS1979

Maps showing saturated thickness, January 1979, and percentage decrease in saturated thickness, 1950-79, of unconsolidated aquifer, west-central Kansas

The principal water-yielding formation (unconsolidated aquifer) supplying water to wells in west-central Kansas is comprised of the Ogallala Formation and undifferentiated Pleistocene deposits. About 1,860 square miles of the area are underlain by sufficient saturated material to supply groundwater for irrigation. Saturated thickness in the area ranges from less than 50 feet to about 270 feet. Thickness of saturated deposits in the unconsolidated aquifer in west-central Kansas has decreased as a result of groundwater withdrawals, principally for irrigation. From 1950 to 1979, the decrease in saturated thickness was negligible in some areas and as much as 80 feet in other areas. The decrease, in a few areas, was nearly an 80% reduction of the initial (1959) saturated thickness.

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USGS1979

Water-resources investigations in Kansas; fiscal year 1978

Hydrologic investigations in Kansas during fiscal year 1978 consisted of collecting and analyzing data to assess the State 's water resources, describe the framework of hydrologic systems , and provide quantity and quality of water data for optimum development and management. Surface-water studies were made to analyze long-term records of streamflow, basin and stream-channel characteristics, relations of rainfall and runoff , frequency of low flows and floods, interrelation of ground and surface water, and the effects of stream regulation on the quantity, quality, and availability of water supplies. Geohydrologic studies were made to determine the source, availability, quantity, and quality of water in the principal aquifers; evaluate long-range effects of irrigation, industrial, and municipal withdrawals; determine the potential for storage of liquid wastes; and prepare digital models for evaluating plans of aquifer development and management. Water-quality studies were made to define the physical, chemical, and biological character of surface and ground water; the origin transport, and character of solutes and sediment in streams; the areal and temporal changes in water quality; and the suitability of water for municipal, industrial and agricultural use.

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USGS1979

January 1979 water levels, and data related to water-level changes, western and south-central Kansas

This report contains hydrologic data on water-level measurements in observation wells in western and south-central Kansas. The measurements were made in mid-winter, mostly in January, when pumping was minimal and water levels had recovered from the effects of pumping during the previous irrigation season. This report also provides basic hydrologic data for relating water-level changes from a "base-reference year" (predevelopment year), a year of abnormally high rainfall and minimum pumpage (1966), and the previous year (1978). The "base-reference year" is designated as 1950 for the northwestern and west-central areas, 1940 for the southwestern area, and 1944 for the south-central area. Water-level data in the south-central area also are compared with data for 1974, which represents the recent period of intensified irrigation-well development. Tables in the report show the depths to water level in 1940, 1944, or 1950 (predevelopment year), 1966, 1974, 1978, and 1979; water-level changes from 1940-79, 1944-79, 1950-79, 1966-79, 1974-79, and 1978-79; and the average annual changes from 1940-79, 1944-79, 1950-79, 1966-79, and 1974-79. Also shown are saturated thicknesses of the deposits in 1940, 1944, or 1950 and in 1979, as well as the percentage change in saturated thickness from 1940-79, 1944-79, or 1950-79. The annual water-level measurements are made by personnel of the Division of Water Resources of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture and of the U.S. Geological Survey. State-agency support for this program is provided through the Kansas Geological Survey. Wells in this report are numbered according to the Bureau of Land Management's system of land subdivision. In this system, the first set of digits of a well number indicates the township; the second set, the range east or west of the sixth principal meridian; and the third set, the section in which the well is situated. The first letter denotes the 160-acre tract within the section; the second, the 40-acre tract; and the third, the 10-acre tract. The letters are designated in a counterclockwise direction beginning in the northeast quadrant. Where there is more than one well in a 10-acre tract, consecutive numbers, beginning with "2", are added in the order in which the data from the wells are collected.

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USGS1979

Hydrologic and related data for water-supply planning in an intensive-study area, northeastern Wichita County, Kansas

Data are presented that result from an intensive geohydrologic study for water-supply planning in a 12-square-mile area in northeastern Wichita County, Kansas. These data include records of wells, test drilling, chemical analyses, ground-water levels, rainfall, soilmoisture, well yield, solar radiation, crop yield, and crop acreage. Data indicate that water levels in the unconsolidated aquifer are declining at an average annual rate of about 1 to 2 feet per year (1950-78). This decline is the aquifer's response to pumping by irrigation wells for watering corn, wheat, grain sorghum, and other crops.

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USGS1979

Evaluation of methods for estimating ground-water withdrawals in western Kansas

During 1978, methods of estimating ground-water withdrawals in western Kansas were examined and evaluated, using both existing data from the files of the U.S. Geological Survey and newly collected data. Values for annual ground-water withdrawals reported to the Division of Water Resources, Kansas State Board of Agriculture, by water users probably contain substantial errors because most individual users do not possess the means to measure or accurately estimate the discharge rates of their wells. Such reported values are estimated to average 10 to 15 percent higher than the actual discharge rate. Values obtained from discharge-totaling meters are reasonably accurate, but few wells are equipped with these meters, and the cost of equipping all wells with meters may be prohibitive. Measured rates of power consumption can give good estimates of total withdrawal from wells where the power consumption is measured. However, power-consumption values cannot be extrapolated reliably from one well to another. Three techniques are regarded as promising for estimating areal ground-water withdrawals from readily collected data: Examination of a small sample of withdrawal values from metered wells indicates that the statistical approach used by Luckey (1972) may be applied to western Kansas to estimate total withdrawal with acceptable accuracy in a large area from a statistical sample of measured values. Measured values of irrigation application at a small number of selected wells might be used to compute total withdrawal for irrigation by crop type and precipitation zone. Evaluation of reported values of irrigation-water application for selected crops in zones of generally similar precipitation showed that, although the reported values are judged to be erroneously high, the reported values were consistent with each other and with average precipitation. Power-consumption coefficients may be used to calculate an average coefficient for an area. The method described by Luckey (1972) was used to calculate the number of power-consumption coefficients that would have to be determined to estimate the mean power consumption of wells pumped by electric or natural-gas engines. The results indicate that as few as 100 values would produce results accurate to within 10 percent of the true average at the 95-percent confidence level. Thus, power coefficients for a particular type of irrigation system in any given area can be used even though values of power coefficients have little transfer value from well to well. Efforts by the Instrument Development Laboratofy of the U.S. Geological Survey to design improved instruments for measuring ground-water withdrawals have produced two promising results: An electronic running-time meter (Running-time Sentry) that was tested during 1978 in western Kansas and Florida appears to give accurate values of total pumping time. Large-scale testing of this prototype running-time meter is planned for 1979. A low-cost discharge-totaling meter (REELTOT), based on the concept of sensing the velocity head in a pipe with differential-pressure transducers permanently installed in the pipe, is nearly complete. Early prototypes of this instrument may be tested in western Kansas during 1979. For the remainder of this study, the three techniques for estimating areal ground-water withdrawals described above will be tested on a larger scale in Groundwater Management District No. 1, an area of about 1,800 square miles in west-central Kansas. About 150 randomly selected wells will be equipped with Running-time Sentry units and monitored for total withdrawal, instantaneous discharge, and power consumption. A few wells will be equipped with prototype discharge-totaling meters. The performance of the Sentry units and discharge-totaling meters will be evaluated. Areal estimates of withdrawal from measured withdrawal values, from average power-consumption coefficients, and from irrigation application by crop will be calculated and compared with each other and with reported values of withdrawal.

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USGS1978

January 1978 water levels, and data related to water-level changes since 1940 or 1950, western Kansas

This report contains basic data on water-level measurements in observation wells in western Kansas. The measurements were made in mid-winter, mostly in January, when pumping was minimal and water levels had recovered from the effects of pumping during the previous irrigation season. This report also provides basic hydrologic data for relating water-level changes from a "base-reference year" (predevelopment year), a year of abnormally high rainfall and minimum pumpage (1966), and the previous year (1977). The "base-reference year" for the northwestern and west-central areas is designated as 1950; for the southwestern area is designated as 1940; and for the south-central area is not yet designated. Tables in the report show the depths to water level in 1940 or 1950 (predevelopment year), 1966, 1977, and 1978; water-level changes from 194078 or 1950-78, 1966-78 and 1977-78; and the average annual changes from 1940-78 or 1950-78, and from 1966-78. Also shown are saturated thicknesses of the deposits in 1940 or 1950 and in 1978, as well as the change in feet and percentage. The annual water-level measurements are made by personnel of the Division of Water Resources of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture and of the U.S. Geological Survey. State-agency support for this program is provided through the Kansas Geological Survey.

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