LOWER ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD Waterbody: Little Arkansas River from Alta Mills to Valley Center Water Quality Impairment: Total Phosphorous and Dissolved Oxygen 1. INTRODUCTION Subbasin: Little Arkansas Ecoregions: Central Great Plains (27): Great Bend Sand Prairie (c) and Wellington-McPherson Lowland (d) Counties: Harvey (HV), Marion (MN), McPherson (MP), Reno (RN), Rice (RC), and Sedgwick (SG) Drainage Area: 1039.6 square miles (mi2) HUC8: 11030012 HUC10 (12): 01 (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07) 02 (01, 02, 03, 09) 03 (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07) 04 (01, 02, 03, 04, 07, 08) 05 (02) Water Quality Limited Segments (Table 1; Figure 1) Table 1. Main stem and tributary water quality limited segments in the Little Arkansas River Watershed. Main Stem Tributary Tributary of Tributary HUC8 11030012 Horse Cr (19) – Salt Cr (21) – Little Arkansas R (14) Dry Cr (22) – Lone Tree Cr (20) – Sand Cr (23) – Little Arkansas R (10) Black Kettle Cr (368) – Little Arkansas R (9) Kisiwa Cr (15) – Emma Cr, Middle (7) Little Arkansas R (5) Emma Cr (6) Emma Cr, West (8) Little Arkansas R (3) – – Gooseberry Cr (17) Little Arkansas R (1) Jester Cr (2) Jester Cr, W Fk (18) Jester Cr, E Fk (9002) Definition: – - No tributary. 1 Figure 1. Map of water quality impaired segments and contributing areas for Kansas Department of Health and Environment stream chemistry (SC) stations, as well as ancillary water quality stations. Designated Uses by Segment (Table 2) Table 2. Designated uses for main stem and tributary segments for the Little Arkansas River Watershed (Kansas Surface Water Register, 2013). Food Ground- Live- Aquatic Contact Domestic Stream Segment Procure- water Industrial Irrigation stock Life Recreation Supply ment Recharge Watering HUC8: 11030012 Little Arkansas R 14 E B Y Y Y Y Y Y Horse Cr 19 E b Y Y Y Y Y Y Salt Cr 21 E b N Y N N N N Dry Cr 22 E b N Y Y N N Y Lone Tree Cr 20 E b N Y Y N Y Y Sand Cr 23 E C N Y Y N Y Y Little Arkansas R 10 E C Y Y Y Y Y Y 2 Food Ground- Live- Aquatic Contact Domestic Stream Segment Procure- water Industrial Irrigation stock Life Recreation Supply ment Recharge Watering HUC8: 11030012 Black Kettle Cr 368 E B Y Y Y Y Y Y Little Arkansas R 9 E C Y Y Y Y Y Y Kisiwa Cr 15 E b Y Y Y Y Y Y Little Arkansas R 5 E C Y Y Y Y Y Y Emma Cr 6 E b Y Y Y Y Y Y Emma Cr, Middle 7 E B Y Y Y Y Y Y Emma Cr, West 8 E C Y Y Y Y Y Y Little Arkansas R 3 E C Y Y Y Y Y Y Little Arkansas R 1 E B Y Y Y Y Y Y Jester Cr 2 E C Y Y Y Y Y Y Gooseberry Cr 17 E b N Y N Y N N Jester Cr, W Fk 18 E C N Y N N N Y Jester Cr, E Fk 9002 E C Y Y Y Y Y Y Definitions: E - Expected aquatic life use water; B, C - Primary contact recreation stream; Y - Referenced stream segment is assigned the indicated designated use; b - Secondary contact recreation stream; N - Referenced stream segment does not support the indicated designated use. Impaired Uses: Expected aquatic life, contact recreation, and domestic water supply 303(d) Listings for Total Phosphorus, Biology, and Dissolved Oxygen Little Arkansas River at Alta Mills (SC246) Total phosphorus, category 5: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Biology, category 4a: 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Black Kettle Creek near Halstead (SC705) Total phosphorus, category 5: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Biology, category 4a: 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Dissolved Oxygen, category 5: 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Kisiwa Creek near Halstead (SC703) Total phosphorus, category 5: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Biology, category 4a: 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Dissolved Oxygen, category 5: 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Emma Creek near Sedgwick (SC534) Total phosphorus, category 5: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Biology, category 4a: 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Dissolved Oxygen, category 5: 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Little Arkansas River at Valley Center (SC282) Total phosphorus, category 5: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Biology, category 4a: 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 3 Water Quality Criteria Narrative Nutrient Criteria The introduction of plant nutrients into streams, lakes, or wetlands from artificial sources shall be controlled to prevent the accelerated succession or replacement of aquatic biota or the production of undesirable quantities or kinds of aquatic life (K.A.R. 28-16-28e(d)(2)(A)). The introduction of plant nutrients into surface waters designated for domestic water supply use shall be controlled to prevent interference with the production of drinking water (K.A.R. 28-16- 28e(d)(3)(D)). The introduction of plant nutrients into surface waters designated for primary or secondary contact recreational use shall be controlled to prevent the development of objectionable concentrations of algae or algal by-products or nuisance growths of submersed, floating, or emergent aquatic vegetation (K.A.R. 28-16-28e(d)(7)(A)). Taste-producing and odor-producing substances of artificial origin shall not occur in surface waters at concentrations that interfere with the production of potable water by conventional water treatment processes, that impart an unpalatable flavor to edible aquatic or semiaquatic life or terrestrial wildlife, or that result in noticeable odors in the vicinity of surface waters (K.A.R. 28-16-28e(b)(7)). Numeric Dissolved Oxygen Criteria The concentration of dissolved oxygen in surface waters shall not be lowered by the influence of artificial sources of pollution. The Dissolved Oxygen criterion is 5.0 mg/L (K.A.R. 28-16-28e(e), Table 1g). Numeric pH Criteria Artificial sources of pollution shall not cause the pH of any surface water outside of a zone of initial dilution to be below 6.5 and above 8.5 (K.A.R. 28-16-28e(e), Table 1g). 2. CURRENT WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS AND DESIRED ENDPOINT Level of Support for Designated Uses under 2020 303(d) Phosphorus levels in the Little Arkansas River are consistently high. Excessive nutrients are not being controlled and are thus impairing aquatic life, contact recreation, and domestic water supply. The ultimate endpoint of this Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) will be to achieve the Kansas Surface Water Quality Standards by eliminating excessive primary productivity and impairment to aquatic life, recreation, and domestic water supply associated with excessive phosphorus. Station Location and Period of Record Stream Chemistry (SC) Stations – Kansas Department of Health and Environment SC246: Active permanent station for Little Arkansas River at Alta Mills, located at latitude 38.112, longitude -97.592. Period of record: March 21, 1990 to December 10, 2019. 4 SC705: Active rotational station for Black Kettle Creek near Halstead, located at latitude 38.029, longitude -97.521. Period of record: May 3, 1995 to November 28, 2018. SC703: Active rotational station for Kisiwa Creek near Halstead, located at latitude 37.957, longitude -97.501. Period of record: July 13, 1994 to November 28, 2018. SC534: Active rotational station for Emma Creek near Sedgwick, located at latitude 37.956, longitude -97.442. Period of record: March 21, 1990 to November 28, 2018. SC282: Active permanent station for Little Arkansas River at Valley Center, located at latitude 37.832, longitude -97.388. Period of record: March 21, 1990 to December 10, 2019. Stream Probabilistic (SP) Stations – Kansas Department of Health and Environment SPB190: Horse Creek. Period of record: 2012. SPB486: West Emma Creek. Period of record: 2015 and 2017. SPB662: Middle Emma Creek. Period of record: 2017. SPA475: Little Arkansas River. Period of record: 2009. Water Quality Stations – U.S. Geological Survey 07143665: Little Arkansas River at Alta Mills. Period of record: 2006 to 2008. 07143672: Little Arkansas River near Halstead. Period of record: 1995 to 2019. 07143965: West Emma Creek. Period of record: 2007 to 2008. 07144000: East Emma Creek. Period of record: 2007 to 2008. 07144035: Emma Creek near Sedgwick. Period of record: 2007. 375721097263300: Emma Creek at 72nd Street. Period of record: 2007 to 2008. 375350097262800: Little Arkansas River upstream of ASR Facility. Period of record: 2011 to 2019. 375348097262800: Discharge from the Little Arkansas River ASR Facility. Period of record: 2012 to 2016. 375344097261600: Little Arkansas River downstream of ASR Facility. Period of record: 2011. 07144100: Little Arkansas near Sedgwick. Period of record: 1995 to 2019. 07144200: Little Arkansas River at Valley Center. Period of record: 2006 to 2008. Stream Biology (SB) Station – Kansas Department of Health and Environment SB727: Active permanent station for Little Arkansas River, located at latitude 38.029, longitude -97.541. Period of record: 2013 to 2018. Streamflow Gages – U.S. Geological Survey 07143665: Little Arkansas River at Alta Mills. Period of record: January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2019. Located at Little Arkansas River at Alta Mills (SC246). 07144100: Little Arkansas River near Sedgwick. Period of record: October 1, 1993 to December 31, 2019. 07144200: Little Arkansas River at Valley Center. Period of record: January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2019.