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Call 911 to report Hazards, Toxic Spills or
Threats to Basin
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FACTS
Size:
covers approximately 2,380 square miles and
encompasses most of Butler and Cowley counties
and small portions of five other counties in
south central Kansas.
Population:
There were an estimated 91,700 residents in the
basin in the year 2000, and the population is
expected to grow to nearly 146,400 by the year
2040.
Flow:
The major streams in the basin are the Walnut
River and its tributary, the Whitewater River;
and Grouse Creek. Both the Walnut River and
Grouse Creek join the Arkansas River just before
it leaves the State of Kansas. 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 two major reservoirs on the river
system Eldorado and Winfield Lakes . To locate
these reservoirs see the following website: http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Hydro/lake_maps.html
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 annual precipitation varies from 32 inches
in the western part to 34 inches in the eastern
part of the basin. Approximately 72 percent of
this precipitation falls between April and
September. In an average year snowfall varies
between 10 and 15 inches. The average
temperature varies from 32 degrees in the winter
to about 79 degrees in the summer.
Economy: The
economy is based primarily on agriculture and
general manufacturing. Major crops grown
include wheat, grain sorghum and soybeans. In
addition, the production of beef cattle is a
significant part of the area’s agricultural
economy. The production and refining of oil and
gas is a significant component of the area
economy.
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SOURCES
Surface water use makes up 91 percent of the
water used in the basin.
Agriculture-
Irrigation accounted for over 10 percent of all
reported water pumped or diverted (1997).
Industry-
Industry accounted for
3.3 percent; recreation accounted for 6.4
percent.
Municipal-
Municipal use accounted for
over 77 percent, and the major use of water in
the basin.
Significant water management entities in the
basin include the conservation districts in
Butler and Cowley counties and eight watershed
districts, which cover approximately 95 percent
of the land area of the basin.
Conservation Districts
are part of a
nationwide grass roots organization made up
of people that collectively promote the wise
management of our natural resources for
sustained use. There are 105
Conservation Districts
across Kansas, one for each county in Kansas.
Each district is lead by a board of five
supervisors that are locally elected. These
supervisors are not paid for their service on
the board.
Each conservation district has developed
programs aimed to address priority concerns for
their county.
(Example) If you own land in Kansas, it is
best to contact the district in the county you
own the land. This will insure you the best in
assistance and knowledge of local conditions.
http://www.cjnetworks.com/~sccdistrict/dist_ks.htm
Kansas Water Office Water Plan for Walnut Basin
http://www.kwo.org/Kansas%20Water%20Plan/Walnut_Basin_Nov.pdf
Reservoirs
The Army Corps of
Engineers, responsible for the operation of El
Dorado Lake, is an important water manager in
the basin. The City of El Dorado has contracted
with the Corps of Engineers for storage space in
El Dorado Lake.
To contact the
Army Corps of Engineers see the following:
http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/regulatory/boundary.htm
Army Corps of
Engineers Feasibility Study of Walnut River
http://www.swt.usace.army.mil/library/Walnut%20River%20Basin%20Feasibility%20Study/wrbfs/index.cfm
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CONSUMERS
Municipal Water Quality
Each Public Water System should
provide a Consumer Confidence Report of water
quality to the KDHE and the EPA.
To find out what is in your local
drinking water follow the websites below:
1.) ‘Drill down’ from the top
using EPA websites that follow:
a. Consumer confidence reports
posted to EPA:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr/index.html
2.) Direct link to Kansas
drinking water to find your County and City:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/ks.htm
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THREATS AND HAZARDS
Quality
Ground Water (subsurface)
Little
groundwater, no management district.
Surface Water Quality
KSU--Whitewater
River water quality: good explanation of each
test and what it represents: http://www.k-state.edu/waterlink/Graphics/Reports/Butler%20Report.pdf
EPA letter to KDHE
about TDS in Walnut River Basin
http://www.kdheks.gov/tmdl/EPAapprov_NVW.pdf
KDHE Total
Dissolved Solids in Walnut River Basin http://www.kdheks.gov/tmdl/wa/WhitewaterR_FCB.pdf
Solutions to Surface water pollution:
KSU: Use of
riparian boundaries to enhance water quality:
http://www.k-state.edu/waterlink/Graphics/Reports/MF2489.pdf
KSU: riparian
buffer maintence:
http://www.k-state.edu/waterlink/Graphics/Reports/Riparian%20Buffer%20Maintenance.pdf
KSU bioretention:
http://www.k-state.edu/waterlink/Graphics/Reports/Bioretention.pdf
USGS water quality
information about all Kansas reservoirs:
http://ks.water.usgs.gov/Kansas/waterdata/climate/reservoir.html
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El
Dorado and Whitewater Reservoir
Reservoir Quality:
http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/
USGS Impact of
sedimentation on water reservoirs
http://ks.water.usgs.gov/Kansas/pubs/abstracts/dpm.030502.html
U.S. Water News:
information about national water quality issues
that include Kansas, 1996-2005
http://www.uswaternews.com/archives/arcquality/arcquality.html
USGS water quality
information about El Dorado reservoir
http://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/ELDR.lakepage.html
KSU water link
compact: water quality in Whitewater Reservoir:
http://www.k-state.edu/waterlink/water_quality/index.html
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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:
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WATER QUANTITY
Groundwater:
For current information about
groundwater levels and water rights, see the
WIMAS website that follows:
http://hercules.kgs.ku.edu/geohydro/wimas/index.cfm
Surface Water:
Streams:
Flood
and Drought Information: for real time water
levels on the Lower Arkansas River click on the
following website:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/rt
USGS monthly water
flow: real time
http://ks.water.usgs.gov/Kansas/history/kswater.hist.html
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 Quantity Information: El Dorado
and Whitewater Reservoir:
USGS real time
water data for reservoirs
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/current?type=lake&type=none&search_site_no_station_nm
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