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Groundwater and Streamflow

The USGS Kansas Water Science Center monitors groundwater and streamflow, including floods and droughts, related to water resources at the local/state/regional/national scales.

Continuous real-time streamflow information is a vital Kansas asset that can safeguard lives and
property and ensures adequate water resources for a healthy State economy. The USGS Kansas Water
Science Center has collected precision hydrologic data since 1895 with the first Cooperative Water
matching funds agreement for 6 streamflow gages with the Kansas Water Board (predecessor to the
Kansas Water Office). The USGS operates more than 200 streamflow-monitoring stations in Kansas.
These streamflow data are available and the flood and drought conditions in Kansas and the Nation
through WaterWatch.

Groundwater measurements are made in partnership with the Groundwater management Districts 1-5,
city of Wichita, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources, and Kansas Geological
Survey. These measurements are part of a number of local and state studies and as part of the
statewide network operated by the Kansas Geological Survey.

Browse Topics

Filter Total Items: 7
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Sunrise over the Kansas River at Topeka

Kansas River Time of Travel Study

The Kansas River provides drinking water for multiple cities in northeastern Kansas and is used for recreational purposes. Thus, improving the scientific knowledge of streamflow velocities and traveltimes will greatly aid in water-treatment plans and response to critical events and threats to water supplies. Dye-tracer studies are usually done to enhance knowledge of transport characteristics...
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Kansas Water Science Center
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Kansas River Time of Travel Study

The Kansas River provides drinking water for multiple cities in northeastern Kansas and is used for recreational purposes. Thus, improving the scientific knowledge of streamflow velocities and traveltimes will greatly aid in water-treatment plans and response to critical events and threats to water supplies. Dye-tracer studies are usually done to enhance knowledge of transport characteristics...
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Setting up Gage

Real-Time Streamflow Data

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was established by an act of Congress on March 3, 1879, to provide a per­manent Federal agency to perform the systematic and scientific "classification of the public lands, and examination of the geologic structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain." Surface-water activities of the USGS in Kansas are part of the Survey’s Water Mission Area’s...
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Kansas Water Science Center
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Real-Time Streamflow Data

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was established by an act of Congress on March 3, 1879, to provide a per­manent Federal agency to perform the systematic and scientific "classification of the public lands, and examination of the geologic structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain." Surface-water activities of the USGS in Kansas are part of the Survey’s Water Mission Area’s...
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Soldier Creek in woods

Fluvial Geomorphology

An understanding of river- and stream-channel geomorphic responses to various human-caused and natural disturbances is important for effective management, conservation, and rehabilitation of rivers and streams to accommodate multiple, often conflicting, needs. Channel changes may have implications for the protection of property and structures, water supply, navigation, and habitat. The channel...
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Kansas Water Science Center
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Fluvial Geomorphology

An understanding of river- and stream-channel geomorphic responses to various human-caused and natural disturbances is important for effective management, conservation, and rehabilitation of rivers and streams to accommodate multiple, often conflicting, needs. Channel changes may have implications for the protection of property and structures, water supply, navigation, and habitat. The channel...
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Image: Johnson County Water Intake Weir

Urban Water Quality Monitoring in Johnson County Kansas

Johnson County, a suburban part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, is one of the most populated counties in Kansas with 544,000 people in 2010, a 21 percent increase in population since 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Located in northeastern Kansas, about one-half of the county is urban. Urban, industrial, and agricultural land uses affect the quality of streams and lakes in the...
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Kansas Water Science Center
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Urban Water Quality Monitoring in Johnson County Kansas

Johnson County, a suburban part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, is one of the most populated counties in Kansas with 544,000 people in 2010, a 21 percent increase in population since 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Located in northeastern Kansas, about one-half of the county is urban. Urban, industrial, and agricultural land uses affect the quality of streams and lakes in the...
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Lovewell Reservoir Dam in Jewell County, KS

Lakes and Reservoirs in Kansas

The lakes and reservoirs in Kansas are located in two major river basins—the Missouri River Basin and the Arkansas River Basin. Basin summaries and individual lake and reservoir information are available courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S Bureau of Reclamation.
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Kansas Water Science Center
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Lakes and Reservoirs in Kansas

The lakes and reservoirs in Kansas are located in two major river basins—the Missouri River Basin and the Arkansas River Basin. Basin summaries and individual lake and reservoir information are available courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S Bureau of Reclamation.
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Kansas Drought

Droughts affect more people in North America than any other natural hazard. The cost of losses due to drought in the United States averages $8-9 billion every year. In Kansas, the droughts of the 1930s and 1950s resulted in severe economic impacts that included crop losses and damage, high livestock mortality rates, tree loss due to disease, damage to fish habitat due to low streamflows, and...
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Kansas Water Science Center
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Kansas Drought

Droughts affect more people in North America than any other natural hazard. The cost of losses due to drought in the United States averages $8-9 billion every year. In Kansas, the droughts of the 1930s and 1950s resulted in severe economic impacts that included crop losses and damage, high livestock mortality rates, tree loss due to disease, damage to fish habitat due to low streamflows, and...
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USGS crews sampling

Mill Creek Sediment

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program has studied sediment transport in Johnson County streams and lakes to better understand how changes from agricultural to urban land use alter sediment in streams and lakes, characterize how these uses may affect lake storage and biological integrity of streams, and evaluate the effectiveness of...
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Kansas Water Science Center
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Mill Creek Sediment

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program has studied sediment transport in Johnson County streams and lakes to better understand how changes from agricultural to urban land use alter sediment in streams and lakes, characterize how these uses may affect lake storage and biological integrity of streams, and evaluate the effectiveness of...
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