|
August 1, 2006 |
Jim Putnam |
785-832-3573 |
|
|
|
Donita Turk |
785-832-3570 |
New Record Low Flows at USGS Streamgages
Provisional streamflow data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) indicate that several long-term low streamflow records were broken in July. Record average July streamflows were recorded at USGS streamgages on the Smoky Hill River at Mentor, New Cambria, and Enterprise. July flow at the Mentor and New Cambria streamgages broke previous low-flow records recorded in 1968. An historic low daily flow, 1.2 cfs, was recorded on July 27 at the Mentor streamgage. The city of Salina, that receives part of its drinking water from the Smoky Hill River, had to begin water conservation measures in late July. The State Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources, curtailed junior water right users from diverting water from the river starting July 27. The river has since recovered from 1.2 cfs on July 27 to 17 cfs July 31. Record average July flows also occurred on South Fork Solomon River at Osborne breaking the previous average July flow recorded in 1955. Average July streamflow at the Cottonwood River near Florence was the lowest since 1966. Additional record or near record average July flows are shown on the table below. Generally, streamflow so far in 2006 has been lower than that during the worst droughts on record in Kansas, those of the 1930’s and 1950’s, based on USGS records from streamgages in operation during those periods.
Lack of significant rainfall and low ground-water levels in western Kansas that affect river flow are largely the cause of the current low streamflow conditions.
|
Station Name |
Average |
Rank (or record) |
Previous lowest average |
Years of |
|
|
July 2006 |
|
July streamflow (cfs) and (date) |
record |
|
|
Streamflow (cfs) |
|
|
|
|
Republican River near Hardy |
9.02 |
record July low flow |
19.1 (2005) |
48 |
|
Republican River at Concordia |
110 |
5th lowest |
42.6 (1954) |
60 |
|
Republican River at Clay Center |
74.0 |
4th lowest |
42.5 (1954) |
88 |
|
Big Creek near Hays |
0.17 |
record July low flow |
0.53 (2005) |
59 |
|
Smoky Hill River at Ellsworth |
29.4 |
9th lowest |
5.10 (1901) |
95 |
|
Smoky Hill River near Mentor |
14.9 |
record July low flow |
27.9 (1968) |
65 |
|
Smoky Hill River at New Cambria |
27.2 |
record July low flow |
52.5 (1968) |
43 |
|
Smoky Hill River at Enterprise |
117 |
record July low flow |
141 (1991) |
71 |
|
North Fork Solomon River at Portis |
1.51 |
record July low flow |
4.03 (1991) |
60 |
|
South Fork Solomon River at Osborne |
0.08 |
record July low flow |
1.74 (1955) |
59 |
|
Saline River near Russell |
0.50 |
record July low flow |
1.69 (1991) |
55 |
|
Arkansas River near Hutchinson |
58.3 |
record July low flow |
62.0 (1991) |
46 |
|
Cottonwood River near Florence |
15.7 |
record July low flow |
22.8 (1966) |
44 |
|
cfs-cubic feet per second |
The USGS in Kansas operates over 170 streamgages in Kansas that are funded by Federal, State, and local agencies. More than 100 of these streamgages have collected data for more than 30 years. Streamflow information is used for water right administration, monitoring floods and droughts, bridge design, and many other uses. USGS streamflow data for Kansas is available at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/rt. Drought information is available at http://ks.water.usgs.gov/Kansas/waterwatch/drought/index.shtml and maps and graphs of comparisons of current conditions and historic conditions can be found at http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/.
The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.