Surface Water

The Neosho River and the Spring River are the two major river systems that cut through the regulation area boundary of the Ozark Plateau aquifer.  Both river systems are monitored by the United States Geological Survey and have New Window United States Geological Survey streamflow gages. The first gage is positioned near Parsons, Kansas on the lower Neosho River.  The second is near Quapaw, Oklahoma on the Spring River.

Ozark Plateau USGS Gaging Stations Map

The Parsons gage has been measured since 1922.  The Quapaw gage has been measured since 1940. The average streamflow at the Parsons gage is 2,734 cfs.  It is 2,173 cfs at the Quapaw gage.

Historical Streamflow

In 1984, the Kansas legislature amended the Kansas Water Appropriation Act to establish Minimum Desirable Streamflows on certain watercourses in Kansas. This includes the Neosho River and Spring River.

Gage

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Parsons

50

50

50

50 (100)

50 (300)

50 (300)

50

50

50

50

50

50

Quapaw

175

200

250

300

450

350

200

160

120

120

150

175

Since Minimum Desirable Streamflow was established in 1984, the frequency of streamflow below the criteria has been less at the Quapaw gage than at the Parsons gage. This is partly because streamflows on the lower Neosho River are affected by operations of three federal reservoirs located within the basin. They include Marion, Council Grove and John Redmond Reservoirs. The administration of Minimum Desirable Streamflow on the Neosho River occurred in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007. Minimum Desirable Streamflow administration occurred for the first time on the Spring River in 2006.