Central Plains Water Science Center
Welcome to the U.S. Geological Survey Central Plains Water Science Center. We deliver high-quality, impartial data and scientific research on water resources across Kansas and Nebraska. Our work supports informed decision-making by Federal, State, Tribal, and local partners, helping to ensure public safety, environmental sustainability, and effective water management. Explore our site to access streamflow, groundwater, and water-quality data, as well as our latest research and publications.
Current water conditions in Kansas and Nebraska
Current water conditions in Kansas and Nebraska
Explore real-time streamflow, groundwater, and water-quality conditions in Kansas and Nebraska and access data through an interactive map.
National Real-Time Water Quality Data
National Real-Time Water Quality Data
Visualize and access real-time water quality data, including sites in Kansas and Nebraska.
News
Central Plains Water Science Center Quarterly Newsletter - March 2026
Central Plains Water Science Center Quarterly Newsletter - March 2026
The Central Plains Water Science Center Presents: Science Seminar Series - March 2026
The Central Plains Water Science Center Presents: Science Seminar Series - March 2026
The Central Plains Water Science Center Presents: Science Seminar Series - January 2026
The Central Plains Water Science Center Presents: Science Seminar Series - January 2026
Publications
Arsenic and isotope concentrations in the lower Platte River valley of eastern Nebraska, early 1970s to 2023 Arsenic and isotope concentrations in the lower Platte River valley of eastern Nebraska, early 1970s to 2023
The City of Lincoln, Nebraska, has been monitoring concentrations of arsenic in their source water and evaluating their options for treatment and removal since at least 2002. In 2022, the City of Lincoln, Nebr., with funding assistance from the Nebraska Water Sustainability Fund, began cooperating with the U.S. Geological Survey to examine arsenic concentrations in surface water and...
An inset groundwater-flow model to evaluate the effects of layering configuration on model calibration and assess managed aquifer recharge near Shellmound, Mississippi An inset groundwater-flow model to evaluate the effects of layering configuration on model calibration and assess managed aquifer recharge near Shellmound, Mississippi
The U.S. Geological Survey has developed a high-resolution inset groundwater-flow model in the Mississippi Delta as part of an interdisciplinary collaboration coordinated by the Mississippi Alluvial Plain project to provide a tool that stakeholders can use to support water-resource management decisions. Groundwater withdrawals from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial (MRVA) aquifer...
Science
Tracking Toxins at the Coastline: A National Look at Harmful Algal Toxins in U.S. Coastal Waters
This study is a major step forward in understanding how harmful algal blooms, which are often associated with lakes and rivers, can also affect coastal environments. It provides important baseline information for scientists, public health officials, and environmental managers.
Effect of Water-Injection Dredging (WID) Operations on Water Quality Downstream from Tuttle Creek Reservoir
USGS continuous water-quality monitoring and discrete sampling is an integral component for understanding pre-, during, and post-WID water-quality conditions and the impacts on the surrounding ecosystems.
Equus Beds Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Project
The water supply for the city of Wichita, south-central Kansas, currently comes from the Equus Beds aquifer and Cheney Reservoir. Because these sources are not expected to meet projected city water needs into the 21st century (Warren and others, 1995), artificial recharge of the Equus Beds aquifer was investigated as one alternative to meet future water-supply demands. An additional potential...
