Fluvial Geomorphology Studies in Kansas

West Branch Mill Creek near Alma.

Little Soldier Creek north of Topeka.

INTRODUCTION

An understanding of river- and stream-channel response to both natural and human factors is necessary for addressing several important issues in Kansas including the protection of property and structures; bridge-site selection, design, and maintenance; protection and rehabilitation of riparian and aquatic habitat; channel capacity; groundwater levels; general aesthetics; and recreation. The channel bank erosion that accompanies natural channel migration across a flood plain represents a constant threat to property and structures located in or near the channel. Human disturbances such as dams, channelization, in-channel sand and gravel extraction, and urbanization introduce additional instability to which rivers and streams adjust by such processes as channel-bed degradation (erosion), channel-bed aggradation (deposition of material), and (or) channel widening. These adjustments, which represent the channel's attempt to establish a new approximate equilibrium pose additional threats to property, structures, and habitat located in or near the affected channels.

Channel adjustments are a concern for several reasons. A significant lowering of the channel bed poses an immediate threat to bridge pier foundations as well as buried pipelines and cables. In addition, significant bed lowering increases bank height and bank instability that may trigger channel widening. Channel aggradation raises the bed elevation, reduces channel capacity, and increases the likelihood of flooding. Any channel changes that occur on the main-stem rivers and streams also may migrate upstream on the tributaries where additional property, structures, and habitat may be at risk. Finally, any long-term channel adjustment processes also may instigate or worsen local scour problems.

Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with various agencies, are providing some of the information needed to better understand and manage river and stream systems in Kansas.

RESULTS

Several recently completed studies have investigated the response of river and stream channels in Kansas to a variety of human-caused and natural disturbances.

Neosho River Channel Stability

A study of the Neosho River in southeast Kansas found that the channel downstream from John Redmond Reservoir had not widened substantially since the dam was completed as was previously believed (Juracek, 1999b, 2000).

John Redmond Dam on the Neosho River near Burlington.

Downstream Effects of Reservoirs

A study of channel-bed elevation changes downstream from large reservoirs in Kansas indicated that channel-bed lowering was typical and ranged from less than 1 to as much as 9 feet (table 1, fig. 1, (Juracek, 2001)).

Table 1. Channel-bed elevation changes downstream from large reservoirs in Kansas.

Reservoir/ lake name	Distance of gaging station downstream from dam (miles)	Post-dam-net change in stage for mean annual discharge (feet)	Period of continuous record at same gaging site (years)
Big Hill	0.2	-2.4	1957-99
Cedar Bluff	21.4	-.6	1964-99
Clinton	3.7	-1.1	1972-80
Council Grove	1.7	-.7	1938-99
El Dorado	5.1	-.2	1981-98
Elk City	.1	-1.7	1965-99
Fall River	.3	-.3	1939-89
Hillsdale	2.0	-.2	1958-99
John Redmond	5.3	-.1	1961-99
Kanopolis	.8	-5.8	1940-99
Marion	.25	-2.1	1968-99
Melvern	13.5	+.3	1968-99
Milford	1.7	-9.0	1963-99
Pomona	.2	-.5	1963-99
Toronto	3.5	-3.3	1939-97
Tuttle Creek	2.5	-3.7	1954-99
Webster	.4	-1.7	1956-99
Wilson	.5	-2.2	1963-99
Median		-1.4

Republican River below Milford Dam.

Figure 1. Graph showing change in river stage for mean annual
discharge (1,000 cubic feet per second) at Republican River gaging station below
Milford Dam.

Figure 1. Change in river stage for mean annual discharge (1,000 cubic feet per second) at Republican River gaging station below Milford Dam (Juracek, 2001).

Historical Channel Change Along Soldier Creek

This study examined the spatial and temporal aspects of channel change due to multiple disturbances that have affected Soldier Creek in northeast Kansas. From the results it was determined that channelization completed in 1957-61 continues to cause channel degradation in the downstream part of the Soldier Creek Basin. For example, ongoing degradation of the Soldier Creek channel bed is evident at the streamflow-gaging station near Delia (fig. 2).

Soldier Creek near Delia.

Figure 2. Graph showing change in stream stage for mean annual
discharge (100 cubic feet per second) at Soldier Creek gaging station near
Delia.

Figure 2. Change in stream stage for mean annual discharge (100 cubic feet per second) at Soldier Creek gaging station near Delia.

Publications

Juracek, K.E., and Fitzpatrick, F.A., 2009, Geomorphic applications of stream-gage information : River Research and Applications, v. 25, p. 329-347.
Juracek, K.E., and Fitzpatrick, F.A., 2007, Geomorphic applications of streamflow-gage information, in program of 2007 USGS Surface Water Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, April 2-6, 2007 [abstract]
Juracek, K.E., and Ziegler, A.C., 2007, Estimation of sediment sources using selected chemical tracers in the Perry Lake and Lake Wabaunsee Basins, northeast Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5020, 53 p.
Juracek, K.E., and Perry, C.A., 2005, Gravel sources for the Neosho River, Kansas 2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5282, 36 p.

Juracek, K.E., 2004, Historical channel-bed elevation change as a result of multiple disturbances, Soldier Creek, Kansas: Physical Geography, v. 25, no. 4, p. 269-290.
Juracek, K.E., 2004, Flood-related organic-carbon anomalies as possible temporal markers in reservoir bottom sediments: Lake and Reservoir Management, v. 20, no. 4, p. 309-321.
Juracek, K.E. and Fitzpatrick, F.A., 2003, Limitations and implications of stream classification: Journal of the American Water Resources Association, v. 39, no. 3, p. 659–670.
Juracek, Kyle E., 2002a, Historical channel change along Soldier Creek, northeast Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4047, 23 p.
Juracek, Kyle E., 2002b, Use of Stream-Gage Information to Assess Changes in River-Channel Morphology, in Program of 6th Annual Missouri River Natural Resources Conference, "Missouri River science--meeting the challenge of change." South Sioux City, Nebraska, April 21-24, 2002, p. 42. [abst. and presentation]
Juracek, Kyle E., 2001, Channel-bed elevation changes downstream from large reservoirs in Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4205, 24 p.
Juracek, Kyle E., 2000, Channel stability downstream from a dam assessed using aerial photographs and stream-gage information. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, v. 36, n. 3, p. 633-645.
Juracek, Kyle E., 1999a, Geomorphic effects of overflow dams on the lower Neosho River, Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4147, 6 p.
Juracek, Kyle E., 1999b, Channel stability of the Neosho River downstream from John Redmond Dam, Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 088-99, 4 p.
Studley, Seth E., 1996, Changes in high-flow frequency and channel geometry of the Neosho River downstream from John Redmond Dam, southeastern Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4243, 16 p.
Jordan, P. R., 1985, Design of a sediment data-collection program in Kansas as affected by time trends: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4204, 114 p.
Bevans, H. E., 1982, Water-quality and fluvial-sediment characteristics of selected streams in northeast Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 82-4005, 53 p.
Osterkamp, W. R., Curtis, R. E., Crowther, H. G., 1982, Sediment and channel-geometry investigations for the Kansas River bank stabilization study, Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 82-128, 71 p.
Osterkamp, W. R., Hedman, E. R., Wiseman, A. G., 1982, Geometry, basin-characteristics, discharge, and particle-size data from gaged stream-channel sites, Western United States: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 82-93, 56 p.
Mundorff, J. C., Waddell, K. M., 1966, Fluvial sediment and chemical quality of water in the Little Blue River basin, Nebraska and Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1819-H, 45 p.
Juracek, K.E., and Fitzpatrick, F.A., 2009, Geomorphic applications of stream-gage information: River Research and Applications, v. 25, p. 329-347.

For additional information contact:

Kyle Juracek
U.S. Geological Survey
4821 Quail Crest Place
Lawrence, KS 66049-3839
Telephone: (785) 832-3527
Fax: (785) 832-3500
Email: kjuracek@usgs.gov