Estimation of Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas in Kansas Using Topographic and Soil Information
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Prepared in cooperation with the KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT Estimation of Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas in Kansas Using Topographic and Soil Information Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4242 EXPLANATION Potential contributing area Boundary of major river basin Hiii Infiltration-excess overland flow only ^H Saturation-excess overland flow only - Subbasin boundary Hi Infiltration- and saturation-excess overland flows L I Noncontributing area U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Estimation of Potential Runoff Contributing Areas in Kansas Using Topographic and Soil Information By KYLE E. JURACEK Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4242 Prepared in cooperation with the KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT Lawrence, Kansas 1999 U.S. Department of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: U.S. Geological Survey District Chief Information Services U.S. Geological Survey Building 810, Federal Center 4821 Quail Crest Place Box 25286 Lawrence, KS 66049-3839 Denver, CO 80225-0286 CONTENTS Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................^ 1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................................^ 1 Background.......................................................................................................................................................^ 4 Description of Kansas................................................................................................................................................. 5 Estimation of Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas.............................................................................................................. 5 Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas..................................................................................................................................... 8 Summary and Conclusions.................................................................................................................................................... 28 References ......................................................................... 29 FIGURES 1. Map showing location of major river basins and selected subbasins in Kansas ..................................................... 2 2. Schematic diagrams illustrating infiltration-excess overland flow and saturation-excess overland flow ............... 4 3-4. Maps showing: 3. Soil permeability in Kansas............................................................................................................................... 6 4. Topographic wetness index data for Kansas...................................................................................................... 10 5-10. Maps showing potential contributing and noncontributing areas of combined infiltration- and saturation- excess overland flows in Kansas for: 5. Very high potential-runoff conditions................................................................................................................ 16 6. High potential-runoff conditions ....................................................................................................................... 18 7. Moderate potential-runoff conditions................................................................................................................ 20 8. Low potential-runoff conditions........................................................................................................................ 22 9. Very low potential-runoff conditions................................................................................................................. 24 10. Extremely low potential-runoff conditions........................................................................................................ 26 TABLE 1. Potential contributing areas for combined infiltration- and saturation-excess overland flows for selected subbasins in Kansas ................................................................................................................................................ 12 Contents III CONVERSION FACTORS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND VERTICAL DATUM Multiply By To obtain inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter inch per hour (in/hr) 2.54 centimeter per hour kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile meter (m) 3.281 foot mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer square kilometer (km2) 0.3861 square mile square mile (mi ) 2.59 square kilometer Sea level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929. IV Estimation of Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas in Kansas Using Topographic and Soil Information Estimation of Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas in Kansas Using Topographic and Soil Information By Kyle E. Juracek Abstract daily load (TMDL) for basins throughout the State. A TMDL is an estimate of the maximum pollutant load Digital topographic and soil information was (material transported during a specified time period) used to estimate potential runoff-contributing from point and nonpoint sources that a receiving water areas throughout Kansas. The results then were can accept without exceeding water-quality standards used to compare 91 selected subbasins represent (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1991). Req ing soil, slope, and runoff variability. Potential uisite for the development of TMDL's is an under runoff-contributing areas were estimated collec tively for the processes of infiltration-excess and standing of potential source areas of storm runoff that saturation-excess overland flow using a set of are the most likely contributors of nonpoint-source environmental conditions that represented very pollution within a basin. high, high, moderate, low, very low, and A study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in extremely low potential runoff. For infiltration- cooperation with the Kansas Department of Health excess overland flow, various rainfall-intensity and Environment, was begun in 1999 to estimate the and soil-permeability values were used. For satu spatial extent and pattern of potential runoff-contribut ration-excess overland flow, antecedent soil-mois ing areas in Kansas (fig. 1). The specific study objec ture conditions and a topographic wetness index tives were to: were used. (1) Estimate potential runoff-contributing areas result Results indicated that very low potential- ing from infiltration-excess and saturation-excess runoff conditions provided the best ability to dis overland flows; and tinguish the 91 selected subbasins as having rela (2) Compare potential runoff among major river basins tively high or low potential runoff. The majority and selected subbasins throughout the State. of the subbasins with relatively high potential run The purpose of this report is to present the results off are located in the eastern half of the State of the study to estimate the spatial extent and pattern where soil permeability generally is less and pre of potential runoff-contributing areas in Kansas. The cipitation typically is greater. The ability to distin methods presented in this report may be applicable guish the subbasins as having relatively high or nationwide as related to the development of TMDL's low potential runoff was possible mostly due to and the targeting and implementation of best-manage the variability of soil permeability across the ment practices (BMP's). This study is a statewide State. expansion of a recently completed study by Juracek (1999) in which the same type of data and similar methods were used to estimate potential runoff-con INTRODUCTION tributing areas in the Kansas-Lower Republican River The State of Kansas is required by the Federal Basin in Kansas. This study was made possible in part Clean Water Act of 1972 to develop a total maximum by support from the Kansas State Water Plan Fund. Introduction Upper Republican Kansas-Lower River Basin Solomon River Republican River Basin m .102' Basin (A f 0> Missouri 5' River Basin Smoky Hill-Saline River Kansas c3D Basin 3 o^ 6 o 3 c 5' Marais des gvl Cygnes %-' River Basin u 3 (Q O T3 O Neosho <£> River -a3 Basin 3; ' Base map from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:2.000,000,1994 Albers Conic Equal-Area projection, Lower Arkansas River Basin Verdigris River Basin Standard parallels 29°30 and 45°30', central meridian 96° Walnut River Basin 3 Subbasin boundaries from U.S. Department of Agriculture, a Natural Resources Conservation Service (1997) W O EXPLANATION 25 50 MILES 25 50 KILOMETERS Boundary of major river basin Subbasin boundary 0) 5' @ Subbasin number 3 EXPLANATION (continued) Subbasins selected for analysis Cimarron River Basin Marais des Cygnes River Basin Solomon River Basin (7) Cavalry Creek @ Big Bull Creek upstream from Hillsdale Lake © Beaver Creek (2) Crooked Creek © Dragoon Creek upstream from Pomona Lake © Bow Creek © Hundred and Ten Mile Creek upstream from Pomona © Limestone Creek (Jewell County)