Kansas
Welcome to the Midcontinent Region! Our region includes 18 Science Centers in 11 States from the Great Lakes to the Dakotas. Our streamgage network is used to monitor and assess water resources across the region. Other research focuses on fisheries and aquatic ecosystems, midcontinental plant/animal species, invasive species, wildlife disease, and energy and mining.
News
The Central Plains Water Science Center Presents: Science Seminar Series - January 2026
The Central Plains Water Science Center Presents: Science Seminar Series - January 2026
Central Plains Water Science Center Quarterly Newsletter - October 2025
Central Plains Water Science Center Quarterly Newsletter - October 2025
Inaugural USGS Wildlife Health Awareness Day - April 25, 2025
Inaugural USGS Wildlife Health Awareness Day - April 25, 2025
Publications
Induced earthquakes are generally not tidally triggered in Oklahoma and Kansas Induced earthquakes are generally not tidally triggered in Oklahoma and Kansas
Human-induced earthquakes occur along critically stressed faults as injected wastewater simultaneously heightens fluid pressure and pushes faults to failure. We investigate the possibility that small stresses imposed by Earth tides could trigger earthquakes in the induced seismicity region of Oklahoma and Kansas from 2011 to 2018. We decluster a catalog consisting of ∼110,000 earthquakes...
Multi-sensor proximal remote sensing for cover crop biomass estimation at high and moderate spatial resolutions Multi-sensor proximal remote sensing for cover crop biomass estimation at high and moderate spatial resolutions
Cover crops play a critical role in providing agroecological services such as improving soil health, reducing erosion and nitrogen loss, and suppressing weeds, which are closely tied to their performance such as accumulated biomass. This study evaluated the Active Canopy Sensor (ACS) -214, an active proximal sensing device equipped with its own light-emitting red and near-infrared...
A framework tool that applies weight-of-evidence integration to the analysis of existing datasets to guide freshwater conservation A framework tool that applies weight-of-evidence integration to the analysis of existing datasets to guide freshwater conservation
The overarching issue we address here is how to extract clear and actionable ecological and management insights from real-world field data that often do not satisfy traditional statistical assumptions. Toward this goal, we developed a general 12+6 step adaptive management framework tool. We applied this framework tool to existing biodiversity monitoring data to create a proof-of-concept...
Science
Algal and Environmental Toxins Research Laboratory — Lawrence, Kansas
About the Laboratory The Environmental Health Program collaborates with scientists at the Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL) in Lawrence, Kansas, to develop and employ targeted and non-targeted analytical methods for identification and quantitation of known and understudied algal/cyanobacterial toxins. The laboratory contructed in 2019 is a 2,500 square foot modern laboratory facility...
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...
USGS Ecosystems Science in Support of Public Safety & Security
Science within the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area provides a critical advantage in addressing public safety, infrastructure, and security issues surrounding natural disasters and changing landscapes, strengthening America’s ability to be a hazard ready Nation.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Cooperative Research Units, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Environmental Health Program, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Drought, Wildland Fire Science