Cheney Lake Watershed Water Quality Monitoring Construction and filling of Cheney Lake was completed in • Describe differences in concentrations and transport of 1965. The lake provides downstream flood control, wildlife selected water quality constituents within the Cheney Lake habitat, recreational opportunities, and a reliable municipal Watershed; water supply for the city of Wichita, Kan. • Evaluate, specifically, the annual transport of selected Objectionable tastes and odors have been a concern in the water-quality constituents into and out of Cheney Reser- finished drinking water from Cheney Lake since 1990. Attempts voir; and to solve taste-and-odor problems within Wichita’s water • Evaluate long-term changes in the chemical quality of reser- treatment plant have proven to be costly and seldom succeed voir sediment to serve as a surrogate for historical changes completely. The taste and odor problems arise, in part, from in water quality. eutrophication, which is a general increase in the fertility status In 2004, the Cheney Lake Watershed was chosen as a special of a body of water, which results in algal blooms, decreased emphasis watershed for study under the Conservation Effects dissolved oxygen, foul taste, odor, and possibly fish kills. Various Assessment Project (CEAP). In 2006, Kansas State University state and federal agencies have monitored both the reservoir was awarded a USDA CEAP grant to examine the water quality and watershed for several years in an attempt to quantify issues effects of strategically implementing specific conservation related to the eutrophic conditions in Cheney Lake. practices in priority locations within Cheney Lake Watershed. In 1996, the U.S. Geological Survey began a water-quality Monitoring was additional component of the K-State project. study of the Cheney Lake Watershed in participation with the Three sites were selected at the same locations that samples were city of Wichita and the Bureau of Reclamation. The objectives collected in the USGS study in 1996 (Figure 1). of the study were to: Results The USGS gauge at the North Fork of the Ninnescah River Figure 1. Locations monitored in the K-State study, 1997-2009. above Cheney Reservoir (USGS 07144780) has the longest flow data for this watershed. Figure Location USGS Latitude Longitude Drainage 2 shows the annual average daily flow for this Site Area (mi2) monitoring location, showing a slight trend of Red Rock Creek 5 37.982 8° 98.0818° 53.19 increased flows. North Fork Ninnescah River 4 37.9250° 98.0817° 550.00 Both Red Rock and Goose Creek sites were Goose Creek 3 37.8596° 98.2495° 46.60 equipped with automated samplers and were used to collect samples during runoff events. Grab samples were taken at the Ninnescah Figure 2. Long-term daily flow averages for the North Fork of the Ninnescah River site and at base flow conditions at the other above Cheney Reservoir (1946-2010). two sites at least weekly from April through September and monthly during the winter months. Figure 3 shows the annual average contaminant concentrations for the sampling sites and Figure 4 shows the corresponding total load for each contaminant. If the average concentrations over the three-year K-State study are compared to the earlier USGS study, they are nearly the same value. This apparent lack of change in contaminant concentrations could be a result of insufficient coverage of conservation practices over such large watersheds or from insufficient conservation practice implementation in priority areas of the watershed. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service Figure 3. Average annual contaminant concentrations for the K-State study. Figure 4. Annual contaminant loading for the K-State study.. Philip Barnes, Water Quality Engineer, Nathan Nelson, Agronomist, Soil Fertility and Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Nutrient Management, Department of Agronomy This project is funded by the USDA-CSREES Integrated Grant Program Conser- vation Effects Assessment Projects (CEAP) project number 2006-51130-30707. Brand names appearing in this publication are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned. Publications from Kansas State University are available at: www.ksre.ksu.edu Publications are reviewed or revised annually by appropriate faculty to reflect current research and practice. Date shown is that of publication or last revision. Contents of this publication may be freely reproduced for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. In each case, credit Philip Barnes et al., Cheney Lake Watershed: Water Quality Monitoring, Kansas State University, August 2011. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service MF3037 August 2011 K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Gary Pierzynski, Interim Director..