Kansas Water Science Center
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Our Kansas Water Science Center priority is to continue the important work of the Department of the Interior and the USGS, while also maintaining the health and safety of our employees and community. Based on guidance from the White House, the CDC, and state and local authorities, we are shifting our operations to a virtual mode and have minimal staffing within our offices. If you need additional assistance, please contact Andy Ziegler, Center Director, 785-256-5172.
New Science Challenges Old Assumptions about Harmful Algal Blooms
First-of-its-kind survey shows that algal toxins are found nationwide
HAB News ArticleNews
USGS Unveils Mobile Flood Tool for the Nation
The U.S. Geological Survey announced Friday the completion of a new mobile tool that provides real-time information on water levels, weather and flood forecasts all in one place on a computer, smartphone or other mobile device.
USGS Dye-Tracing Study on the Kansas River to Aid in Protecting Water Supplies
U.S. Geological Survey and partners will inject a harmless, bright red fluorescent dye into the Kansas River on September 29, weather permitting. The study is being done by the USGS in cooperation with the Kansas Water Office, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, The Nature Conservancy, City of Manhattan, City of Topeka, City of Olathe and WaterOne.
USGS Responds to Spring Flooding
U.S. Geological Survey field crews are measuring flooding across the country as spring weather is in full swing. Warming temperatures, increased precipitation and snowmelt have caused moderate to major flooding in the upper Midwest, East Coast, Central Plains and the Southeast portions of the country.
Publications
Spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and algae in the Republican River and Milford Lake, Kansas, June through November 2017 and May through November 2018
Milford Lake has been listed as impaired and designated hypereutrophic because of excessive nutrient loading, specifically biologically available orthophosphate. It is the largest lake by surface area in Kansas and is a reservoir built for purposes including water supply and recreation. In 2015, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (...
Leiker, Brianna M.; Abel, Justin R.; Graham, Jennifer L.; Foster, Guy M.; King, Lindsey R.; Stiles, Tom C.; Buley, Riley P.
Environmental and anthropogenic drivers of contaminants in agricultural watersheds with implications for land management
If not managed properly, modern agricultural practices can alter surface and groundwater quality and drinking water resources resulting in potential negative effects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Exposure to agriculturally derived contaminant mixtures has the potential to alter habitat quality and negatively affect fish and other aquatic...
Smalling, Kelly; Devereux, Olivia H.; Gordon, Stephanie; Phillips, Patrick J.; Blazer, Vicki S.; Hladik, Michelle; Kolpin, Dana W.; Meyer, Michael T.; Sperry, Adam; Wagner, Tyler Multiple co-occurring and persistently detected cyanotoxins and associated cyanobacteria in adjacent California lakes
The global proliferation of toxin producing cyanobacterial blooms has been attributed to a wide variety of environmental factors with nutrient pollution, increased temperatures, and drought being three of the most significant. The current study is the first formal assessment of cyanotoxins in two impaired lakes, Canyon Lake and Lake Elsinore, in...
Howard, Meredith D. A.; Kudela, Raphael M.; Hayashi, Kendra; Tatters, Avery O.; Caron, David A.; Theroux, Susanna; Oehrle, Stuart; Roethler, Miranda; Donovan, Ariel; Loftin, Keith; Laughrey, Zachary