Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 2: Profile and Capabilities

Section 2: Regional Profile and Capabilities

2.1 Geography and Topography

The five counties that make up the City metropolitan area—Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray — have a combined area of 2,689 square miles. The region is located in the west-central and northwest parts of Missouri, bordering the state of Kansas on the west; Buchanan, Clinton and Caldwell counties on the north; Carroll, Lafayette, Johnson and Henry counties on the east; and Bates County on the south. Figure 2.1 illustrates the location of the Kansas City metropolitan area in relation to the rest of the state. The natural features of the Kansas City metropolitan area are described in detail in the following sections of this regional profile:

• Climate • Geology • Soils • Waterways and Water Resources • Ecosystems • Flora • Fauna • Endangered Species

Figure 2.1: The Missouri Counties of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area

Cass County

Cass County, the 27th largest county in Missouri, has an area of 699 square miles. Cass County is located in the west-central part of the state, entirely within the section of the Missouri Ecological Mid-America Regional Council 2.1 January 2010 Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 2: Profile and Capabilities

Classification System (Nigh and Schroeder, 4). Soil types in Cass County are formed of , residuum and alluvium, and are deep and nearly level to sloping (Clements, 108). The bedrock underlying the surface soils is primarily , shale and (Clements, 108). Elevations in the county range from 730 to 1,120 feet above sea level. Figure 2.1 depicts the topography of Cass County in 30-meter Digital Elevation Model (DEM) shaded relief (a sample of elevation in intervals of 30 meters).

Source: University of Missouri CARES Web site

Figure 2.2: Cass County Topography

Clay County

Clay County is Missouri’s 109th largest county, with an area of 396 square miles. Clay County is located in the northwest part of the state and lies entirely within the Central section (Nigh and Schroeder, 4). The floodplain of the forms the southern portion of the county; the rest of the county consists of gently to moderately sloping uplands and floodplains (Clements, 121). The bedrock underlying Clay County is limestone and shale (Clements, 121). Elevations in the county range from 849 to 1,020 feet above sea level (Clements, 121). Figure 2.3 depicts the topography of Clay County in 30-meter DEM shaded relief.

Mid-America Regional Council 2.2 January 2010 Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 2: Profile and Capabilities

Source: University of Missouri CARES Web site

Figure 2.3: Clay County Topography

Jackson County

Jackson County, the state’s 52nd largest county, has an area of 605 square miles. Jackson County is located in the west-central part of the state and lies within the Central Dissected Till Plains and Osage Plains ecological sections (Nigh and Schroeder, 4). The far northern portion of Jackson County consists of the nearly level floodplain of the Missouri River, the county’s northern boundary (Clements, 185). This area is bordered on the south by moderately sloping to steep bluffs and hills (Clements, 185). The remainder of the county consists of gently to moderately sloping uplands and floodplains (Clements, 185). The soil in Jackson County is mostly loess, and ranges from deep and gently sloping to steep, and from poorly to well drained (Clements, 185). The soil is fertile, but only a small portion is devoted to agriculture because of the large urban and suburban areas of the county (Clements, 185). The northern portion of the county represents the southern extreme of glacial action in Missouri (Clements, 185). The bedrock underlying the county is limestone and shale (Clements, 185). Elevations in Jackson County range from 748 to 1,009 feet above sea level (Clements, 185). Figure 2.4 depicts the topography of Jackson County in 30-meter DEM shaded relief.

Mid-America Regional Council 2.3 January 2010 Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 2: Profile and Capabilities

Source: University of Missouri CARES Web site

Figure 2.4: Jackson County Topography

Platte County

Platte County is the 105th largest county in Missouri, with an area of 420 square miles. Platte County is located in northwest Missouri and lies within the Central Dissected Till Plains section of the state (Nigh and Schroeder, 4). The topography of Platte County is heavily influenced by the Missouri River (Clements, 279-280). Most of the county is level to sloping and is mainly a floodplain, although there are some areas with bluffs (Clements, 279-280). Platte County’s soil is generally deep and well to moderately well drained (Clements, 279-280). The soil near the Missouri River is alluvial, but farther west, the soil is composed of loess and residuum (Clements, 279-280). The bedrock underlying the county is limestone and shale (Clements, 279-280). Elevations in Platte County range from 359 to 1,026 feet above sea level (Clements, 279-280). Figure 2.5 depicts the topography of Platte County in 30-meter DEM shaded relief.

Mid-America Regional Council 2.4 January 2010 Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 2: Profile and Capabilities

Source: University of Missouri CARES Web site

Figure 2.5: Platte County Topography

Ray County

Ray County, the state’s 60th largest county, has an area of 569 square miles. Ray County is located in the northwest part of the state and lies entirely within the Central Dissected Till Plains section (Nigh and Schroeder, 4). Ray County is primarily uplands and bottomlands (Clements, 295). The uplands are located in the northern part of the county and are characterized by gently rolling to broken topography, whereas the bottomlands are in the southern part of the county near the Missouri River (Clements, 295). Near the Missouri River, the land is undulating to flat, and the soil is fertile (Clements, 295). The underlying bedrock in the county is shale and limestone (Clements, 295). Elevations in Ray County range from 702 to 1,024 feet above sea level (Clements, 295). Figure 2.6 depicts the topography of Ray County in 30-meter DEM shaded relief.

Mid-America Regional Council 2.5 January 2010 Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 2: Profile and Capabilities

Source: University of Missouri CARES Web site

Figure 2.6: Ray County Topography

2.2 Climate and the Environment

Rapid changes in the region’s weather result from the wide range of potential influences on it. The climate in the region is classified as a modified continental climate. Because there are no physical geographic features nearby to obstruct or alter the flow of air currents, such as mountain ranges or large bodies of water, the region is affected by currents of moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, dry air currents from the desert southwest and cold polar air from the arctic and Canada (USACE Kansas City District, B- 1).

Spring (March, April and May) in the Kansas City area is the season with the most changeable weather, particularly early in the season. The last freeze normally occurs in early April, although freezes can occur in early May. Normal high temperatures in spring range from 54.4°F in March to 74.6°F in May. Normal low temperatures during this period range from 33.2°F in March to 53.9°F in May. Normal mean springtime temperatures in the region range from 43.8°F in March to 64.3°F in May. Spring precipitation in t