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 management practices designed to reduce sediment transport to streams and lakes, so that the county can best manage its water resources.
How does urbanization affect sediment transport in streams and lakes, and why do changes in sediment transport matter?
During urban construction, removal of surface vegetation and excavation of soils for building and road foundations greatly increase soil erosion during rainfall events. These soils are transported from construction sites and can be redeposited on land surfaces, floodplains, and streambeds and in lakes. When the construction phase is finished, impervious surfaces (streets, parking lots, building roofs) route rainwater directly to streams, resulting in larger, faster streamflows that can increase the transport of deposited sediments and incise or widen stream channels. Changes to natural streams as a result of urbanization can result in property loss, reduction in biological diversity, siltation of downstream reservoirs, and increased water treatment costs.
How is sediment transport being studied in Johnson County?
The vast majority of sediment moves through streams during sporadic, high flow events which occur during and after periods of heavy rainfall. This is especially true in small, urban streams in which runoff conditions can persist for only hours. Historically, sediment-related impairments to streams and lakes have been assessed by comparing the results of periodically collected sediment samples. However increased recognition of the time-scales in which sediment is transported, as well as the deployment of sensors that collect water-quality data continuously within streams have allowed sediment impairments to be assessed much more accurately. Since 2002, the USGS has installed and operated continuous stream-level and turbidity sensors to quantify if, and to what extent climate and land-use change have changed sediment transport in streams.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Effects of urbanization, construction activity, management practices, and impoundments on suspended-sediment transport in Johnson County, northeast Kansas, February 2006 through November 2008
Stormwater Runoff: What it is and Why it is Important in Johnson County, Kansas
Transport and sources of suspended sediment in the Mill Creek Watershed, Johnson County, Northeast Kansas, 2006-07
Estimation of Constituent Concentrations, Loads, and Yields in Streams of Johnson County, Northeast Kansas, Using Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring and Regression Models, October 2002 through December 2006
Bottom-Sediment Accumulation and Quality in Shawnee Mission Lake, Johnson County, Kansas, 2006
Sediment deposition and selected water-quality characteristics in Cedar Lake and Lake Olathe, Northeast Kansas, 2000
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
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 management practices designed to reduce sediment transport to streams and lakes, so that the county can best manage its water resources.
How does urbanization affect sediment transport in streams and lakes, and why do changes in sediment transport matter?
During urban construction, removal of surface vegetation and excavation of soils for building and road foundations greatly increase soil erosion during rainfall events. These soils are transported from construction sites and can be redeposited on land surfaces, floodplains, and streambeds and in lakes. When the construction phase is finished, impervious surfaces (streets, parking lots, building roofs) route rainwater directly to streams, resulting in larger, faster streamflows that can increase the transport of deposited sediments and incise or widen stream channels. Changes to natural streams as a result of urbanization can result in property loss, reduction in biological diversity, siltation of downstream reservoirs, and increased water treatment costs.
How is sediment transport being studied in Johnson County?
The vast majority of sediment moves through streams during sporadic, high flow events which occur during and after periods of heavy rainfall. This is especially true in small, urban streams in which runoff conditions can persist for only hours. Historically, sediment-related impairments to streams and lakes have been assessed by comparing the results of periodically collected sediment samples. However increased recognition of the time-scales in which sediment is transported, as well as the deployment of sensors that collect water-quality data continuously within streams have allowed sediment impairments to be assessed much more accurately. Since 2002, the USGS has installed and operated continuous stream-level and turbidity sensors to quantify if, and to what extent climate and land-use change have changed sediment transport in streams.
- Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Effects of urbanization, construction activity, management practices, and impoundments on suspended-sediment transport in Johnson County, northeast Kansas, February 2006 through November 2008
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Johnson County, Kansas, Stormwater Management Program, investigated the effects of urbanization, construction activity, management practices, and impoundments on suspended-sediment transport in Johnson County from February 2006 through November 2008. Streamgages and continuous turbidity sensors were operated at 15 sites within the urbanizing 57-sStormwater Runoff: What it is and Why it is Important in Johnson County, Kansas
Stormwater runoff is a leading contributor to pollution in streams, rivers, and lakes in Johnson County, Kansas, and nationwide. Because stormwater runoff contains pollutants from many different sources, decreasing pollution from stormwater runoff is a challenging task. It requires cooperation from residents, businesses, and municipalities. An important step in protecting streams from stormwater pTransport and sources of suspended sediment in the Mill Creek Watershed, Johnson County, Northeast Kansas, 2006-07
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program, evaluated suspended-sediment transport and sources in the urbanizing, 57.4 mi2 Mill Creek watershed from February 2006 through June 2007. Sediment transport and sources were assessed spatially by continuous monitoring of streamflow and turbidity as well as sampling of suspended sediment at nine sitesEstimation of Constituent Concentrations, Loads, and Yields in Streams of Johnson County, Northeast Kansas, Using Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring and Regression Models, October 2002 through December 2006
Johnson County is one of the most rapidly developing counties in Kansas. Population growth and expanding urban land use affect the quality of county streams, which are important for human and environmental health, water supply, recreation, and aesthetic value. This report describes estimates of streamflow and constituent concentrations, loads, and yields in relation to watershed characteristics inBottom-Sediment Accumulation and Quality in Shawnee Mission Lake, Johnson County, Kansas, 2006
Shawnee Mission Lake is an artificial impoundment central to Shawnee Mission Park, the largest public park in Johnson County, Kansas. The Shawnee Mission Lake watershed has remained relatively undeveloped since the completion of the dam in 1962. However, recent (1990?2006) urban development has been a cause for concern regarding the quantity and quality of sediment entering the reservoir. The U.S.Sediment deposition and selected water-quality characteristics in Cedar Lake and Lake Olathe, Northeast Kansas, 2000
The Lake Olathe watershed, located in northeast Kansas, was investigated using bathymetric survey data and reservoir bottom-sediment cores to determine sediment deposition, water-quality trends, and transport of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen species), selected trace elements, selected pesticides, and diatoms as indicators of eutrophic (organic-enriched and depleted oxygen supply) conditions. - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.