Numerical Groundwater Model of the Middle Arkansas River Subbasin
The Middle Arkansas River stretches from the Ford-Edwards county line to the confluence with Rattlesnake Creek in southwest Kansas.
The subbasin lies within the lower part of the Upper Arkansas basin as defined by the Kansas Water Plan. The subbasin is one of several project areas of the Division of Water Resources - Basin Management Team (BMT). A decline in groundwater levels in the High Plains aquifer and a decrease in streamflow have been observed during the last 30 years within the subbasin.
Purpose
The Division of Water Resources and the Kansas Water Office needed additional information. Data was collected regarding the aquifers, the nature of stream-aquifer interactions and the impact of groundwater pumpage. The data was used for planning and management of water resources in the Middle Arkansas subbasin. The modeling included simulations of different scenarios of streamflow and groundwater pumpage.
The modeling project began in July 2004 and ended in April 2006.
Study Area
The Middle Arkansas Subbasin is 781,455 acres in extent. It is located in portions of Barton, Edwards, Kiowa, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties in south-central Kansas. Approximately three-fourths of the subbasin lies within the Big Bend Groundwater Management District No. 5. The Arkansas River flows into the southwest part of the subbasin. It follows a generally northeasterly path to Great Bend. There it curves to the east and southeast before exiting the subbasin.
Report
To view the final report on the Numerical Groundwater Model --Final Modeling Report. For more information on groundwater modeling visit the Hydrologic Modeling page.
Meetings
To view minutes for the Technical Advisory Committee meetings--Meetings. These meetings were held collaboratively during the construction period of the model.
For more information on the Middle Arkansas subbasin visit the homepage at Middle Arkansas River Subbasin.
