USGS - Estimation of Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin, Kansas
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USGS - Estimation of Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin, Kansas U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4089 Estimation of Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin, Kansas By Kyle E. Juracek Prepared in cooperation with the KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT CONTENTS Abstract Introduction Background Description of Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin Estimation of Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas Infiltration-Excess Overland Flow Saturation-Excess Overland Flow Combined Infiltration-Excess and Saturation-Excess Overland Flows Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas Infiltration-Excess Overland Flow Saturation-Excess Overland Flow Combined Infiltration-Excess and Saturation-Excess Overland Flows Summary and Conclusions References FIGURES Figure 1. Map showing location of Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin and selected subbasins in Kansas Figure 2. Schematic diagrams illustrating infiltration-excess overland flow and saturation-excess overland flow Maps showing: Figure 3. Soil permeability in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin Figure 4. Digital elevation model data for the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin Figure 5. Topographic wetness index data for the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin Figure 6. Graph showing frequency distribution of mean soil permeabilities for selected Kansas-Lower Republican River subbasins Maps showing: Figure 7. Potential contributing and noncontributing areas of infiltration-excess overland flow in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin for high rainfall-intensity conditions Figure 8. Potential contributing and noncontributing areas of infiltration-excess overland flow in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin for moderate rainfall-intensity conditions Figure 9. Potential contributing and noncontributing areas of infiltration-excess overland flow in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin for low rainfall-intensity conditions Figure 10. Graph showing frequency distribution of mean topographic wetness indices for selected Kansas- Lower Republican River subbasins Maps showing: Figure 11. Potential contributing and noncontributing areas of saturation-excess overland flow in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin for wet antecedent soil-moisture conditions Figure 12. Potential contributing and noncontributing areas of saturation-excess overland flow in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin for moderate antecedent soil-moisture conditions Figure 13. Potential contributing and noncontributing areas of saturation-excess overland flow in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin for dry antecedent soil-moisture conditions Figure 14. Potential contributing and noncontributing areas of combined infiltration- and saturation- file:///igskqdcwgsnas1/home/computer/cmarkley/public_html/wscgit/public/pubs/reports/wrir.99-4089.html[12/14/2017 2:40:10 PM] USGS - Estimation of Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin, Kansas excess overland flows in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin for high potential-runoff conditions Figure 15. Potential contributing and noncontributing areas of combined infiltration- and saturation- excess overland flows in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin for moderate potential-runoff conditions Figure 16. Potential contributing and noncontributing areas of combined infiltration- and saturation- excess overland flows in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin for low potential-runoff conditions TABLES Table 1. Recurrence intervals, durations, and rainfall intensities for storms in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin Table 2. Mean soil permeability and potential contributing areas of infiltration-excess overland flow for selected rainfall intensities and selected Kansas-Lower Republican River subbasins Table 3. Potential rainfall excess for selected Kansas-Lower Republican River subbasins Table 4. Mean topographic wetness index and potential contributing areas of saturation-excess overland flow for selected antecedent soil-moisture conditions and selected Kansas-Lower Republican River subbasins Table 5. Potential contributing areas for combined infiltration- and saturation-excess overland flows for selected Kansas-Lower Republican River subbasins CONVERSION FACTORS, ABBREVATIONS, 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 (mi²) 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. Abstract Digital soils and topographic data were used to estimate and compare potential runoff-contributing areas for 19 selected subbasins representing soil, slope, and runoff variability within the Kansas-Lower Republican (KLR) River Basin. Potential runoff-contributing areas were estimated separately and collectively for the processes of infiltration- excess and saturation-excess overland flow using a set of environmental conditions that represented high, moderate, and low potential runoff. For infiltration-excess overland flow, various rainfall intensities and soil permeabilities were used. For saturation-excess overland flow, antecedent soil-moisture conditions and a topographic wetness index were used. Results indicated that the subbasins with relatively high potential runoff are located in the central part of the KLR River Basin. These subbasins are Black Vermillion River, Clarks Creek, Delaware River upstream from Muscotah, Grasshopper Creek, Mill Creek (Wabaunsee County), Soldier Creek, Vermillion Creek (Pottawatomie County), and Wildcat Creek. The subbasins with relatively low potential runoff are located in the western one-third of the KLR River Basin, with one exception, and are Buffalo Creek, Little Blue River upstream from Barnes, Mill Creek (Washington County), Republican River between Concordia and Clay Center, Republican River upstream from Concordia, Wakarusa River downstream from Clinton Lake (exception), and White Rock Creek. The ability to distinguish the subbasins as having relatively high or low potential runoff was possible mostly due to the variability of soil file:///igskqdcwgsnas1/home/computer/cmarkley/public_html/wscgit/public/pubs/reports/wrir.99-4089.html[12/14/2017 2:40:10 PM] USGS - Estimation of Potential Runoff-Contributing Areas in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin, Kansas permeability across the KLR River Basin. Introduction The State of Kansas is required by the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972 to develop a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for basins throughout the State. A TMDL is an estimate of the maximum pollutant load (material transported during a specified time period) from point and nonpoint sources that a receiving water can accept without exceeding water-quality standards (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1991). Requisite for the development of TMDL's is an understanding of potential source areas of storm runoff that are the most likely contributors of nonpoint-source pollution within a basin. A study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, was begun in 1998 to estimate the spatial extent and pattern of potential runoff-contributing areas for selected subbasins in the Kansas-Lower Republican (KLR) River Basin (fig. 1). The specific study objectives were to: 1. Estimate potential runoff-contributing areas resulting from infiltration-excess overland flow; 2. Estimate potential runoff-contributing areas resulting from saturation-excess overland flow; and 3. Compare potential runoff among selected subbasins within the KLR River Basin. The purpose of this report is to present the results of the study to estimate the spatial extent and pattern of potential runoff-contributing areas for selected subbasins in the KLR River Basin. The methods presented in this report may be applicable nationwide as related to the development of TMDL's and the targeting and implementation of best- management practices (BMP's). Background Runoff-contributing areas within basins primarily are the result of two processes, both of which produce overland flow. The first process is infiltration-excess overland flow (fig. 2A), which occurs when precipitation intensity exceeds the rate of water infiltration into the soil. This process may be dominant in basins where the land surface has been disturbed (for example, plowed cropland) or where natural vegetation is sparse. The second process is saturation- excess overland flow (fig. 2B), which occurs when precipitation falls on temporarily or permanently saturated land- surface areas that have developed from "outcrops" of the water table at the land surface (Hornberger and others, 1998). A temporary water table can develop during a storm when antecedent soil-moisture conditions in a basin are high. The saturated areas where saturation-excess overland flow develops expand during a storm and shrink during extended dry periods (Dunne and others, 1975). Both runoff processes would be expected to affect the load of water-quality constituents in streams. The identification of potential runoff-contributing areas in a basin can provide guidance for the targeting of BMP's to reduce runoff and meet TMDL requirements.