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Call 911 to report Hazards, Toxic Spills or
Threats to Basin
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FACTS
Size:
The
Cimarron Basin covers nearly
6,800 square miles of the southwest corner of
Kansas. The basin includes all or parts of 14
counties The climate of the basin is
characterized by moderate to low precipitation,
relatively high wind velocities, fairly rapid
rates of evaporation, a wide range of
temperatures and abrupt, sometimes violent
changes in weather.
Population:
There were an estimated 54,300 residents in this
basin in the year 2000, and the population is
projected to grow to 68,500 by the year 2040.
Flow:
The major river in the
basin is the Cimarron. Principal tributaries
of the Cimarron River in Kansas are the North
Fork Cimarron, Crooked Creek, Bluff Creek and on
occasions of high runoff, Bear Creek.
For real-time information on water levels in the
river basin click on the following website:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/rt
Reservoirs:
There are no major reservoirs in the
basin.
Topography and Soil:
The topography in the basin varies from flat,
undulating plains of slight relief to rolling
uplands and, in places, steep bluffs and
hills. The Cimarron National Grassland lies in
the very southwestern tip of Kansas. This is
pretty far off the beaten path, and there aren't
too many choices of roads to get you here, which
is one of its charms.
The Cimarron
National Grassland is located within the basin
and covers an area of about 100,000 acres: http://www.naturalkansas.org/cimarron.htm
Economy:
The economy of the basin is very dependent on
agriculture. Crops grown include wheat, corn,
grain sorghum, soybeans, forage sorghum and
alfalfa. Livestock production is an important
component. Beef cattle are the predominant
livestock produced in the basin. Large cattle
feeding operations are common. Beef processing
is also a major economic factor in the basin.
Gas and oil production is
widespread and very important to the basin’s
economy. The first gas wells were drilled in
the Hugoton field in the early 1920’s, which
remains a major national gas producing area.
Other minerals are of minor importance to the
basin.
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Usage of Water
Surface
water provides 0 % of supply for all reported
uses in 1997.
Groundwater
Virtually 100% of the water use in the basin is
from ground water. Irrigation is widespread and
extremely important to the area economy.
Groundwater Management District No. 3 is the
major water management entity in the basin. To
find the locations of these subsurface water
bearing units, and the organizations that manage
groundwater districts, click on the following
website:
http://www.ksda.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=180&mid=2311&ctl=Download&method=attachment&EntryId=217
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CONSUMERS
Agriculture
Ninety-seven percent of the water used in the
basin is for irrigation. Just under 90 percent
of the basin is cropland of which about 20
percent is irrigated.
Industry
and
Municipal
accounted for about 3 percent of water used in
the basin
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THREATS AND HAZARDS
In April 2001, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the
Cimarron River in Clark, Comanche, Meade and
Seward counties, from U.S. Highway 54 bridge
downstream to the Kansas-Oklahoma border, as
critical habitat for the Arkansas River Shiner.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/cim/
Ground Water (subsurface)
High Plains Aquifer:
For specific information about groundwater
quality contact:
Stafford Groundwater Management
District at:
Big Bend Groundwater Management
District #5
125 South, Main St
Stafford, KS 67578
Phone: (620) 234-5352
Fax: (620) 234-5718
http://www.gmd5.org/
The following websites contain
general information about the High Plains
Aquifer and threats to groundwater quality from
salt contamination and total dissolved solids (TDS):
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Cimarron National Grasslands
(Meade State Park)
Meade State Park
13051 V Road
Meade, KS 67864
Park Office (620) 873-2572
Regional Office (785)628-8614
Meade State Park was originally
carved out of the Turkey Track Ranch in 1927.
Meade State park rests in the High Plains of
southwest Kansas, just west of the Red Hills, 8
miles south and 5 miles west of Meade on Highway
23. The state park and wildlife area comprise
803 acres of land and water.
The park features overnight
camping, with or without electrical and water
hook-ups. The lake is surrounded by many trees
that provide shade for camping and picnicking.
In the 80 acre lake, bluegill, channel cat,
crappie and large mouth bass are plentiful and
provide excellent opportunities for the angler.
A boat dock is available for the unloading of
boats. No skiing or pleasure boating is allowed,
and all boats must be operated at no-wake
speeds. A swimming beach area has been marked
off. For nature lovers who like to identify
various different trees, grasses, flowers and
birds, a nature trail has been marked at the
northwest corner of the lake. Meade State Park
is happy to have group gatherings at the park.
Information can be obtained at the park office.
Meade State Park contains an ‘artesian’ well
that draws from the High Plains Aquifer. A
lower- in –the- section aquifer is in the Dakota
Formation. Water quality from the Dakota
Formation is less desirable than from the High
Plains Aquifer. On a recent visit to Meade Lake
(2005) the swimming area was closed due to high
algal content.
Information
about the Cimarron National Grasslands (Meade
State Park) can be found at the following sites:
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WATER QUALITY
Each Public Water System
should provide a Consumer Confidence Report of
water quality to the KDHE and the EPA:
Information
about Kansas public water supplies can be found
at:
To find out
what is in your local drinking water follow the
websites below:
Drill down’ from the top using EPA websites that
follow:
Rivers
and Impairment:
Now what about
that river? As it turns out, the Cimarron River
(although appearing on most maps) usually flows
underground only, several feet below the
surface. You get the lush growth of cottonwoods
along its banks, and yet there's no water to be
seen!
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WATER QUANTITY
Groundwater:
For current information about
groundwater levels and water rights, see the
following sites:
Surface Water:
Flood and Drought Information:
Streams:
for real time water levels on the Lower Arkansas
River click on the following website:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/rt
Drought Assessment:
http://www.kwo.org/reports%20&%20publications/drought/kwo%20drought%20report.htm
Kansas Water Office reports on drought
http://koufax.kgs.ku.edu/kars/kars_map.cfm--weekly
interactive maps showing vegetation conditions
across the State of Kansas. The maps are derived
from NOAA satellite data that measures how green
vegetation is. Vegetation stress is a proxy
measure of drought
Flood Information:
contact the National Weather Service
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
Reservoir Information: No Reservoir
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ADDITIONAL LINKS
Related Links for
Additional Information
Midwest Assistance Program (MAP)
The Midwest Assistance Program is dedicated to
helping rural communities improve their
environment, quality of life and be
self-sustaining.
American Water Works Association
(AWWA)-The American
Water Works Association (AWWA) is an
international nonprofit scientific and
educational society dedicated to the improvement
of drinking water quality and supply.
Kansas Rural Water Association-The
Kansas Rural Water Association provides
leadership and educational opportunities to help
its more than 650 municipal and rural water
district members and other professionals wisely
manage water and wastewater resources.
Kansas Water Office-Lead
office for the Governor's Water Quality
Initiative.
a.
Drought Report
U.S. EPA Laboratories with
Approval Pending-Laboratories
with approval pending for the analysis of
Cryptosporidium under the LT2 Rule, Safe
Drinking Water Act
U.S. EPA Office of Water
U.S. EPA Ground Water & Drinking
Water
U.S. EPA Region 7 Home Page
(Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska)
U.S. EPA National Home Page
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