News Release

Are Droughts in Kansas Getting Worse?

Streamflow records collected by the USGS indicate that years 2000-2006 represent the sixth hydrologic drought during the past eight decades. “In the summer of 2006, flows at four long-term USGS streamgages on the Republican, Saline, Solomon, and Smoky Hill Rivers in North central and Central Kansas were significantly lower than the 1930s and 1950s even though the rainfall deficit was not as severe,” said Jim Putnam, hydrologist with the USGS. The record low river flows resulted in a water emergency in Salina during the summer of 2006. Salina’s principle water supply is from wells connected to the Smoky Hill River. The State also had a record number of minimum desirable streamflow violations based on criteria first set in the 1980s. The State monitors minimum streamflow and may shut off supplies to junior water right holders if flow levels fall below State requirements.

Further analysis indicates that runoff ratio, the part of rainfall that becomes river flow, for each of the six droughts in Kansas has progressively decreased over time at four sites, with the lowest runoff ratio occurring in the 2000s drought. Although there may be other factors, a change in land management practices in the State may be one reason for this change. Putnam said that the increase in the number of small and large lakes in Kansas, 12 in 1920 to over 5000 in 1995 has probably had a lot to do with the change. “These small and large lakes trap runoff and it either sinks into the ground or evaporates, not making it to the rivers,” Putnam said. The State currently uses drought information from the 1950s for water management during droughts, so this change in streamflow versus rainfall during droughts is important for managing water resources in future droughts.

The new USGS fact sheet is available at:

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3034/

Kansas drought information is available at:

http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/?m=pa07d_dry&r=ks

Real-time information for all Kansas streamgages can be monitored on the USGS web site at:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/rt

To view other USGS water information in Kansas, visit:

http://ks.water.usgs.gov

Drought conditions in Kansas during 2006 and location of USGS streamgages and lake gages with record low flows in 2006.

Runoff ratio (amount of rainfall that becomes streamflow) at Saline River at Tescott for mid-year of five consecutive driest years at six hydrologic droughts in Kansas. Lowest runoff ratio occurred in 2004 even though rainfall that year was higher than during the 1930s and 1950s droughts.

USGS provides science for a changing world. For more information, visit www.usgs.gov.