Hydrologic Conditions in , Water Year 2017

The U.S. Geological Survey area, and most of the eastern border of the WY about 30 percent was classified (USGS), in cooperation with Federal, Kansas received normal to above normal as abnormally dry, about 9 percent was State, and local agencies, maintains precipitation, whereas the central and classified as moderate drought, and about a long-term network of hydrologic northeastern parts of the State received 1 percent of the State was classified as monitoring stations in Kansas. In water slightly below normal precipitation severe drought (National Drought Mitiga- year (WY) 2017, the network included (National Oceanic and Atmospheric tion Center, 2017). The central and north- 214 real-time streamgages (hereafter Administration, 2017). The percentage eastern parts of Kansas were the areas of referred to as “gages”) and 12 real-time of normal precipitation Kansas received the State that were affected by drought reservoir-level monitoring stations. Real- in WYs 2016 and 2017 are compared in conditions at the end of the WY (fig. 2; time data are calibrated and validated figure 1. At the beginning of WY 2017, National Drought Mitigation Center, by USGS personnel throughout the year a little more than 13 percent of the State, 2017). These areas coincide with the with regular measurements of stream- mostly in southwestern Kansas, was clas- parts of the State that received slightly flow and lake levels. These data and sified as the drought condition “abnor- below normal precipitation during WY associated analyses provide a unique mally dry” (fig. 2; National Drought 2017. The total area affected by drought overview of the hydrologic conditions Mitigation Center, 2017). By the end of in Kansas at the end of WY 2017 was and help improve the understanding of substantially more than at the end of the Kansas’ water resources. Yearly assess- previous 2 WYs; however, figure 3 shows ments of hydrologic conditions are made Water year 2016 that WY 2017 had a smaller percentage by comparing statistical analysis of and far less extreme drought conditions current and past WY data for the period than the end of WYs 2011–14 (National of record. A WY is the 12-month period Drought Mitigation Center, 2017). from October 1 through September 30 and is designated by the calendar year Beginning of water year 2017 in which it ends. Long-term monitor- ing of hydrologic conditions in Kansas provides crucial information for protect- ing of human life and property, manag- Water year 2017 ing water supplies, forecasting floods, operating reservoirs, designing bridges and culverts, processing interstate and intrastate water rights claims, ecological monitoring, and many other uses. nd of water year 2017 Preceding Conditions and Precipitation PAATI Climate normals are three-decade ormal precipitation, in percent 175 averages of climatological variables, 150 including precipitation (National Oceanic 125 and Atmospheric Administration, 2018). 110 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 100 Administration produces a climate 90 PAATI 75 normals product every 10 years; the Drought intensity 50 current dataset includes data from 1981 to Abnormally dry 25 Moderate drought 2010 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Severe drought Administration, 2018). Most of Kansas Figure 1. Percentage of normal (1981– received greater than normal precipita- 2010) precipitation in Kansas for water Figure 2. Drought conditions in Kansas at tion in WY 2016. During WY 2017, the years 2016 and 2017 (National Oceanic and the beginning and end of water year 2017 western part, part of the north-central Atmospheric Administration, 2017). (National Drought Mitigation Center, 2017).

U.S. Department of the Interior Fact Sheet 2018–3060 U.S. Geological Survey September 2018 100 ctober 2016 April 2017

80

60

40 uly 2017 September 2017

20 Areal coverage of drought conditions, in percent

0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Water year PAATI PAATI ceptional drought treme drought 10 10–24 25–75 76–90 90 Severe drought Low igh No data Much below Below Normal Above Much above oderate drought normal normal normal normal Abnormally dry Percentile classes one Figure 4. Monthly streamflow conditions across Kansas throughout water year 2017 Figure 3. Percent areal coverage of (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017a). drought conditions in Kansas at the end of water years 2011–17 (National Drought precipitation. Streamflow conditions central Kansas had below normal to much Mitigation Center, 2017). in central Kansas decreased to below below normal runoff during the first two normal conditions, whereas the southwest quarters. Intense precipitation in the third corner decreased further to much below quarter caused much of the State to have Streamflow Conditions and normal (less than 10th percentile). The above normal runoff conditions. The Drainage Basin Runoff WY ended with most of the State having southeastern corner of Kansas had much normal streamflow conditions. Parts of above normal runoff conditions, whereas The streamflow conditions in central, northeastern, and southeastern the northwestern and southwestern parts Kansas were normal (25th–75th percen- Kansas had below normal streamflow, of Kansas still suffered from below tile) throughout most of WY 2017 whereas parts of southwestern and north- normal runoff. Less precipitation and (fig. 4; U.S. Geological Survey, 2017a). central Kansas had much below normal heightened storage in reservoirs caused Above normal (76th–90th percentile) streamflow conditions. These locations much of northern and central Kansas and much above normal (greater than coincide with the areas of below normal to have below normal and much below 90th percentile) streamflow conditions precipitation and drought conditions at normal runoff in the last quarter of the were present in the eastern one-half and the end of the WY (figs. 1, 2). WY. A few isolated extreme precipitation northwestern corner of the State, whereas Runoff, or streamflow per unit area, events in the fourth quarter caused the the drought conditions (fig. 2) contributed eastern border of Kansas to be at above to below normal (10th–24th percentile) is a good indicator of precipitation and streamflow for a drainage basin. Runoff normal or much above normal runoff at and record low streamflow conditions in the end of the WY (figs. 1, 5). the southwestern part of Kansas at the is not solely affected by precipitation contributions for a given area because beginning of the WY. These conditions Reservoirs remained relatively unchanged until April of groundwater aquifer recharge and when extensive precipitation throughout reservoir storage, which can prevent Many of the Federal reservoirs in Kansas caused the streamflow condi- water from exiting the basin, decreasing Kansas were at above normal levels at tions to increase in range from normal streamflow (Langbein and Iseri, 1960). the beginning of WY 2017 (table 1). to record high, except for the extreme Quarterly runoff percentiles for WY 2017 All the USGS monitored reservoirs in northwest corner of the State where are shown in figure 5. Normal to above Kansas exceeded their conservation pool below normal conditions were present. normal runoff conditions predominated elevations during the year because of By July most of the State had normal throughout most of the WY. Runoff fell heavy precipitation from April through streamflow conditions. A few areas on the into the 68th percentile of computed June (National Oceanic and Atmospheric eastern and southern border of Kansas runoff and ranked 37th for the State Administration, 2017) except for Cedar were elevated to above normal condi- (calculated since 1901, U.S. Geologi- Bluff Reservoir near Ellis, Kansas. The tions because of localized high intensity cal Survey, 2017a). Parts of western and resulting high water-surface elevations ctober–December 2016 anuary–arch 2017 Eleven of the USGS-monitored reservoirs ended the WY with less water than at the beginning of the WY, whereas only Hills- dale Lake near Hillsdale, Kans. (station 06914995; fig. 7), ended the WY with slightly more water.

Streamflow at Selected Streamgages April–une 2017 uly–September 2017 Four gages were selected to charac- terize streamflow conditions in Kansas for WY 2017. Locations of the selected gages are illustrative of the spatial and temporal variability of conditions exist- ing in different regions of the State. The locations of these gages, three other gages discussed in other sections, and USGS lake-level monitoring stations are PAATI provided in figure 7. Stranger Creek near Tonganoxie, 10 10–24 25–75 76–90 90 Kans. (station 06892000), represents Low Much below Below Above Much above igh No data normal normal Normal normal normal eastern Kansas. Stranger Creek originates Percentile classes in northeast Kansas and flows south into the near Linwood, Kans., Figure 5. Quarterly runoff conditions across Kansas throughout water year 2017 and has a drainage area of 406 square (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017a). miles (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017b). Seven-day average flow was above caused many Kansas reservoirs to release Kans. (station 06910997; figs. 6, 7), and normal at the beginning of the WY higher outflows in April, May, and the gage below the lake outflow, the (fig. 8). The 7-day average flow dropped June; these reservoirs continued steady at Melvern, briefly to below normal by March. Spring outflows during the other summer months Kans. (station 06911000; figs. 6, 7). and summer precipitation kept the 7-day to reach their respective target conser- The releases from the Kansas reservoirs average streamflow ranging from normal vation pool elevations (U.S. Geologi- helped keep streamflow normal in areas to much above normal conditions during cal Survey, 2017b). A good example of the State that received less than normal the second one-half of the WY. This of this is near Melvern, precipitation during WY 2017 (figs. 1, 4). gage closed out WY 2017 with normal

Table 1. Change in water storage during water year 2017 in 12 Federal reservoirs with complete records monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; WY, water year. A water year is a 12-month period from October 1 through September 30 and is designated by the calendar year in which the period ends. Values in red are losses; values in green are gains]

USGS Storage at beginning Peak storage Storage at end Change in storage, streamgage Reservoir name of WY 2017, during WY 2017, of WY 2017, in percent number (fig. 7) in percent in percent in percent 06857050 near Junction City, Kansas 111.6 129.8 104.3 −6.5 06861500 near Ellis, Kansas 32.6 33.4 30.9 −5.3 06865000 near Kanopolis, Kansas 127.2 186.2 108.8 −14.5 06868100 near Wilson, Kansas 122.1 114.6 102.1 −3.1 06886900 near Manhattan, Kansas 105.3 208.2 115.7 −5.2 06890898 near Perry, Kansas 140.9 164.4 112.4 −20.2 06891478 near Lawrence, Kansas 111.0 130.7 109.6 −1.3 06910997 Melvern Lake near Melvern, Kansas 113.2 127.8 99.5 −12.1 06912490 Pomona Lake near Quenemo, Kansas 117.9 159.1 116.2 −1.4 06914995 near Hillsdale, Kansas 103.1 156.8 105.7 2.6 07140885 Horsethief Reservoir near Jetmore, Kansas 90.6 109.1 84.5 −6.7 07144790 near Cheney, Kansas 103.1 124.2 95.2 −7.7 streamflow conditions. This station 1,042 experienced above average precipita- 1,000 tion (fig. 1) and normal to above normal 1,041 Streamgage 06911000 runoff conditions (fig. 5), which kept the 7-day average streamflow at or above 1,040 normal conditions throughout WY 2017. 1,039 Saline River at Tescott, Kans. 100 (station 06869500), represents central Kansas. The Saline River originates in 1,038 northwestern Kansas and flows east into the Smoky Hill River, near Salina, Kans., 1,037 and has a drainage area of 2,820 square 1,046 in cubic feet per second miles (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017b). 10 op of conservation pool

Seven-day average flow was much above Datum of 1988 North American ertical 1,035 normal at the beginning of the water year. Streamgage 06910997 Marais des Cygnes River (06911000) daily streamflow, January, April, May, and June also had Melvern Lake (06910997) daily elevation, in feet above 1,034 several days with much above normal 7-day average streamflow, whereas the 1,033 1 Aug. 16, Oct. 7, Nov. 26, an. 15, Mar. 6, Apr. 25, une 14, Aug. 3, Sept. 22, Nov. 17, remaining months of the WY recorded 2016 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017 normal to above normal streamflow Date (water year 2017) (fig. 8). Even though this station received below normal precipitation (fig. 1) and Figure 6. Conservation pool elevation of Melvern Lake near Melvern, was affected by drought conditions at the Kansas, and daily streamflow of streamgage 06911000 during water end of the WY (fig. 2), the 7-day average year 2017 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017b). streamflow conditions remained normal or above because of regulated outflows from Wilson Lake near Wilson, Kans. into the Cimarron River in Oklahoma and below normal or much below normal for (station 06868100; fig. 7; table 1). has a drainage area of 1,157 square miles the first one-half of the WY. The 7-day Two stations were chosen to repre- (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017b). Seven- average streamflow rose to much above sent western Kansas. The first is Crooked day average streamflow was normal at the normal conditions in April with the Creek near Englewood, Kans. (station very beginning of the WY but quickly fell heavy spring precipitation received that 07157500). Crooked Creek originates into below normal conditions. Seven-day month. The 7-day average streamflow in southwestern Kansas and flows south average streamflow typically was either was normal for most of the second half of

102° 101° PAATI 40° 100° 99° 98° 97° 96° Reservoir 95° levation, in feet above R orth American epu blican ertical Datum

R So Stra lo i n of 1988 m v g on e R e r r 4,039 iv C e Tuttle Creek Lake 06892000 r r e Kans e 679 Satin a k e River s R 39° iver Wilson Lake 06869500 U.S. Geological Survey Milford Lake Perry Lake S Linwood continuous-record moky Hill River Cedar Bluff Salina Clinton Lake streamgage Reservoir Hillsdale Lake 06892000 Kanopolis Lake Ponoma Lake Marais de s C Melvern Lake ygne s

06911000 R U.S. Geological Survey i v e continuous-record 07137500 r lake-level monitor- Horsethief 38° 07138000 ing site with Garden City Reservoir A reservoir name 07139000 rkan sas R Melvern Lake iver Cheney r V e er Reservoir v d i ig N i e R r o er v s s i t h R o r u R

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Base from U.S. Geological Survey National Elevation Dataset, 30-meter digital elevation model 0 25 50 75 100 MILES Albers Equal-Area Conic projection, standard parallels 29°30’N and 45°30’N, central meridian −96°W North American Datum of 1983 0 25 50 75 100 KILOMETERS North American Vertical Datum of 1988

Figure 7. Locations of U.S. Geological Survey monitored reservoirs and selected streamgages. WY 2017 (fig. 8). Because of the drought Streamgage 06892000, Stranger Creek near Streamgage 06869500, Saline River at escott, conditions (fig. 2) present at the begin- onganoie, Kansas (Drainage area: 406 suare Kansas (Drainage area: 2,820 suare miles, miles, length of record: 87–88 years length of record: 96–98 years ning of WY 2017 the streamflow at this 9,000 20,000 station was below normal or much below 10,000 normal for the first one-half of the WY. 1,000 1,000 After having above normal precipitation 100

(fig. 1) during the months of March and 100 April, the streamflow ranged from normal 10 10 to much above normal for the remainder 1 of the WY. 0.1 1 The second station chosen to Oct Nov Dec an Feb Mar Apr Mayune uly Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec an Feb Mar Apr Mayune uly Aug Sept represent western Kansas is the Arkan- Streamgage 07157500, Crooked Creek near Streamgage 07138000, at Syracuse, sas River at Syracuse, Kans. (station nglewood, Kansas (Drainage area: 1,157 suare Kansas (Drainage area: 25,763 suare miles, 07138000). The Arkansas River origi- miles, length of record: 73–75 years length of record: 98–100 years nates in Colorado and flows through 5,000 20,000 Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas into 1,000 the Mississippi River and has a drain- 100 age area of 25,763 square miles at the

Syracuse gage (U.S. Geological Survey, Seven-day average discharge, in cubic feet per second 10 2017b). Flows downstream are regularly diverted for irrigation in western Kansas 1 and for flood control near Wichita, Kans. 0.1 Like during WY 2016 the 7-day average Oct Nov Dec an Feb Mar Apr Mayune uly Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec an Feb Mar Apr Mayune uly Aug Sept stream flow was normal for most of the 2017 WY. Above normal conditions were PAATI present a few times in the spring and summer months (fig. 8). This station Lowest 5 10–24 25–75 76–90 95 90th percentile 10th percentile highest received well above normal precipita- Flow Much below normal Below Normal Above Much above normal tion (fig. 1) and was minimally affected normal normal by drought conditions (fig. 2), helping Percentile classes the streamflow conditions stay normal throughout WY 2017. Figure 8. Seven-day average streamflows for water year 2017 for U.S. Geological Survey streamgages 06892000, 06869500, 07157500, and 07138000 in Kansas Resurgence of the Arkansas River (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017a). The Arkansas River flows into Kansas from Colorado and water is regu- 10,000 larly diverted for irrigation in western Kansas. The water is always flowing PAATI in the Arkansas River at the gage near Water year 2017 Coolidge, Kans. (station 07137500), but 1,000 2016 in most years the water in the channel of 2015 the Arkansas River disappears by Garden 2014 City, Kans.; therefore, the cumulative 2013 flow at the gage in Garden City, Kans. 100 (station 07139000), can be used to show the downstream extent of flow in the Arkansas River (fig. 7). The cumulative flow for the Arkansas River at Garden 10 City, Kans., gage for WYs 2013–17 is shown in figure 9. As figure 9 shows, WY 2017 recorded a cumulative flow of about 2,300 ft3/s, which is significantly in cubic feet per second Cumulative flow, 1 more flow than the previous 4 WYs (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017a). The annual mean flow for the same gage for 0.1 WYs 1923–2017 (data not available for Oct. 1 Nov. 1 Dec. 2 an. 2 Feb. 2 Mar. 4 Apr. 4 May 5 une 5 uly 5 Aug. 6 Sept. 6 WYs 1971–86) is shown in figure 10. Date Even though the flow recorded at the Arkansas River at Garden City, Kans., Figure 9. Streamgage 07139000 cumulative streamflow hydrograph for water years gage was the highest seen in the last 2013–17, Kansas (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017a). 5 WYs, it is still low when compared to 10,000 the overall period of record (U.S. Geolog- ical Survey, 2017a). The channel at the 1,000 Garden City gage during a dry period in WY 2013 and a period of flooding in WY 2017 is shown in figure 11. The 100 major factors responsible for stream- flow alteration along this reach are local 10 changes to land use and water use as well as groundwater withdrawals (Juracek and others, 2017). 1

Summary 0.1 Streamflow conditions in Kansas in cubic feet per second Mean annual flow, for water year (WY) 2017 were mostly 0.01 normal. Runoff conditions were mostly 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 normal until the last quarter of WY 2017. ear The central part of the State received Figure 10. Streamgage 07139000 annual mean flow for water years 1923–70 slightly below normal precipitation for and 1987–2017, Kansas (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017a). the WY, whereas the western and eastern parts received above normal precipita- tion. The drought conditions worsened from the beginning to the end of the WY. The central and northern areas of the State that ended the WY with below or much below normal streamflow condi- tions corresponded to the areas effected by drought because of below normal precipitation. However, parts of central and southern Kansas that were affected by the drought conditions finished the Figure 11. Left, Arkansas River at Garden City, Kansas, in April 2013 (photograph by WY with normal streamflow conditions Andrew Clark, U.S. Geological Survey), and right, in August 2017 (photograph by Lori Marintzer, because of releases from reservoirs. U.S. Geological Survey). Eleven of the 12 reservoirs monitored by the U.S. Geological survey finished the National Drought Mitigation Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 2017a, Water- WY with less water than at the beginning 2017, U.S. Drought Monitor— Watch—Current water resources of the WY. The Arkansas River in south- Kansas: National Drought Mitigation in Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey west Kansas had a greater duration and Center, U.S. Drought Monitor web website, accessed November 7, 2016, downstream extent of streamflow during page, accessed November 7, 2017, at https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/. WY 2017 than in recent WYs, as shown at http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/. by the data recorded at the streamgage in U.S. Geological Survey, 2017b, Garden City, Kansas. National Oceanic and Atmospheric USGS water data for the Nation: Administration, 2017, Advanced U.S. Geological Survey National References Cited hydrologic prediction service—2017 Water Information System data- precipitation maps for Kansas: base, accessed November 7, 2017, at Juracek, K.E., Eng, K., Carlisle, D.M., National Oceanic and Atmospheric https://doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN. and Wolock, D.M., 2017, Stream- Administration, National Weather flow alteration and habitat ramifica- Service, accessed November 7, 2017, For additional information con- tions for a threatened fish species at http://water.weather.gov/precip/. cerning this publication, contact: in the central United States: River Research and Applications, v. 33, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Director, USGS Kansas Water no. 7, p. 993–1003. [Also available at Administration, 2018, Climate Science Center https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.31481002.] normals: National Centers for 1217 Biltmore Dr. Environmental Information web Lawrence, KS 66049 Langbein, W.B., and Iseri, K.T., 1960, page, accessed June 29, 2018, at (785) 842–9909 General introduction and hydrologic https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data- Or visit the Kansas Water definitions: U.S. Geological Survey access/land-based-station-data/land- Science Center website at: Water-Supply Paper 1541–A, 29 p. based-datasets/climate-normals. https://ks.water.usgs.gov

By Bradley S. Lukasz ISSN 2327-6916 (print) https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20183060 ISSN 2327-6932 (online)