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Water-Quality Assessment of Streams in Johnson County, Kansas
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Mill Creek near Shawnee Mission Parkway. |
Introduction
Johnson County, located in northeast Kansas, is the most populated county in the State according to the 2000 U.S. census,
with more than 450,000 people. Urban, industrial, and agricultural land uses affect the water quality of streams and lakes
in the county. Water-quality impairments have been identified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment
in several Johnson County streams including the Blue River
and Indian, Mill, Cedar and Kill Creeks. Stream impairments are caused primarily by sediment, nutrients, and bacteria.
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Purposes
The USGS, in cooperation with the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program, began a multi year study during the
fall of 2002 to evaluate water quality in streams throughout the county.
Specifically, the purposes of the study are to:
- describe water-quality conditions in streams throughout Johnson County,
- identify contaminant source areas, and
- estimate constituent concentrations, densities, and loads.
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USGS
hydrographer collecting a water sample from Mill Creek.
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Water-quality monitor used to measure
specific conductance, pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and
turbidity in Johnson County streams.
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Approach
Water samples were collected from more than 40 stream locations during
base-flow and stormflow conditions during 2002 through 2005. Base-flow is defined as
the sustained low flow of a stream originating primarily from springs or ground-water
recharge and from consistent point-source discharges such as wastewater-treatment facilities.
In addition to analysis for sediment, nutrients, pesticides, and bacteria, samples
were analyzed for compounds associated with wastewater such as caffeine, nicotine,
hormones, antibiotics, and detergents. Sediment
samples were collected from 15 sites and analyzed for the same compounds.
Benthic macroinvertebrates also were collected at 15 sediment sites to assess
cumulative water-quality effects on in-stream biota.
Also, continuous water-quality monitors were installed in Blue River, Cedar, Indian, Kill,
and Mill Creeks are being used to provide round-the-clock information on the chemical
and physical health of these water bodies.
Regression models are being developed to provide continuous estimates of stream-water
constituent concentrations or densities that are based on the relation between laboratory-analyzed
samples and in-stream sensor measurements such as turbidity and specific
conductance. Information from the continuous monitors is transmitted by satellite
and available to the public in real time on the World Wide Web by selecting from the links provided below.
The continuous data are used to:
- immediately recognize changes in water-quality conditions,
- provide continuous concentration, density, and load estimates for constituents of concern, and
- evaluate long-term changes in total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and resource management practices.
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Benefits
This study will provide a comprehensive assessment of water-quality conditions in streams throughout Johnson County. Results will assist the county and its cities in identifying contaminant source areas and in developing and evaluating land-management plans that affect water
quality.
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Changes in water-quality conditions in Mill Creek resulting from storm runoff.
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Results
Reports and Publications
Water Quality of Streams in Johnson County, Kansas, 2002� ,
Rasmussen, T.J., 2008, Water quality of streams in Johnson County, Kansas, 2002-07: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2008-3090, 4 p.
Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring of Streams in Johnson County, Kansas, 2002-06 ,
Rasmussen, T.J., Lee, C.J., and Ziegler, A.C., 2008, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2008-3007
Estimation of Constituent Concentrations, Loads, and Yields in Streams of Johnson County, Northeast Kansas, Using Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring and Regression Models, October 2002 through December 2006,
Teresa J. Rasmussen, Casey J. Lee, and Andrew C. Ziegler
Assessment of Biological Conditions at Selected Stream Sites in Johnson County, Kansas, and Cass and Jackson Counties, Missouri, 2003 and 2004,
Barry C. Poulton, Teresa J. Rasmussen, and Casey J. Lee
Biological Conditions in Streams of Johnson County, Kansas, and Nearby Missouri, 2003 and 2004,
Barry C. Poulton, Teresa J. Rasmussen, and Casey J. Lee
Effects of Nonpoint and Selected Point Contaminant Sources on
Stream-Water Quality and Relation to Land Use in Johnson County, Notheastern
Kansas, October 2002 through June 2004, Lee, C.J., Mau, D.P. and Rasmussen,
T.J., 2005, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific
Investigations Report 2005�44
Effects of Contaminant Sources on Stream-Water Quality in Johnson County,
Northeastern Kansas, October 2002 Through June 2004, Lee,
C.J., Mau, D.P. and Rasmussen, T.J., 2005, U.S. Geological
Survey Fact Sheet 2005-3080
Presentations
Water-Qualityof Streams in Johnson County, Kansas, (pdf 5.15MB),
Lawwrence, Kansas, August 21, 2008
Water-Quality
Assessment of Streams in Johnson County, Kansas: A cooperative study
between the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program and the U.S.
Geological Survey (pdf 6MB),
Lawrence,
Kansas,
September 21, 2005
Assessment
of Biological Conditions in Streams of Johnson County, Kansas, Kansas Water Environment Association, Topeka, Kansas, April 4, 2007
Data Files
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