USGS Newsroom

Helping to Preserve Water Resources around Wichita, Kansas with New Groundwater Model

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EDT

A new model to better describe groundwater changes and chloride movement in the Equus Beds aquifer, a primary water-supply source for the Wichita, Kansas area, has been completed by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the City of Wichita.

"This model will help us effectively manage and better preserve our valuable water supplies," said Mike Jacobs, City of Wichita Water Resources Engineer. "This valuable tool will assist in accurately tracking our critical resource by being able to measure the water available, account for water that is artificially recharged into the aquifer, and by monitoring the movement of chloride."

The study began in 2009 to determine groundwater flow in the Wichita well field area, and chloride transport from the Arkansas River and Burrton oil field. This model will be used to determine the effects on groundwater from changes in well pumping, rainfall, and streamflow. Results from this study are available online.

The new tool will assist with overall management in the Equus Beds aquifer, and will be used by water management organizations including: the city of Wichita; Equus Beds Groundwater Management District Number 2; Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources and other municipalities.

This model can be used to simulate changes in water withdrawals, changes in water levels caused by drought and/or pumping, and natural and artificial recharge to the aquifer. Artificial recharge is the practice of increasing the amount of water that enters a groundwater reservoir by artificial means. This includes adding water to the land surface in recharge ponds and injection of water into the subsurface through wells.

The model will be used to simulate the movement of chloride because if the levels are high (more than 250 mg/L), the water is less usable as a drinking-water source and for crop irrigation. Chloride is present in nearly all natural waters, although concentrations are normally low. Chloride originates from natural deposits of salt and from past oil and gas brine solutions and disposal.

The Wichita well field was developed in the Equus Beds aquifer northwest of Wichita to supply water to the city. In 1940, the city began pumping from 25 wells in the well field. In addition, nearby agricultural pumpage increased greatly in the 1970s and 1980s. Groundwater pumping from the well field caused water levels to decline over a large part of the study area.

The City of Wichita is in the process of commissioning Phase II of the Equus Beds Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Project. Phase II completes 25% of the ASR project, which includes: storing and later recovering groundwater; forming a hydraulic barrier to the known chloride-brine plume near Burrton, Kan.; and forming a hydraulic barrier to the chlorides entering the aquifer from the Arkansas River.

Flood Plains Contaminated by Historical Mining in Cherokee County

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:30:00 EDT

Flood plains along several streams in southeast Cherokee County, Kan., are contaminated by an ongoing input of lead and zinc from historical mining in the area that ended several decades ago, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study.

There are concerns that contaminated sediment from the flood plains may have toxic effects on wildlife. Stored sediment could also erode and be reintroduced into the streams where aquatic life, such as fish and mussels, may be threatened.

Southeast Cherokee County is part of the old Tri-State Mining District, which once was one of the world’s leading producers of lead and zinc ore. Concentrations of lead and zinc in mining-affected parts of Shoal Creek, Short Creek, Spring Branch, Tar Creek, Turkey Creek, and Willow Creek frequently exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s probable-effects concentration (PEC) for toxic aquatic biological effects. The highest contamination was found in the flood plains of Short and Tar Creeks where lead concentrations exceeded the PEC by more than 3,000 percent, and zinc concentrations exceeded the PEC by more than 2,000 percent. This study was conducted by the USGS for the EPA, and can be found online.

"The mining-related contamination is a long-term problem and the study provides the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency important information needed to support the remediation of mining-affected areas in southeast Cherokee County," said Kyle Juracek, the lead USGS scientist on the study.

The lead and zinc concentrations were well below the PEC in the flood plains along Brush, Cow, and Shawnee Creeks, which had little or no historical lead and zinc mining in their basins. Likewise, lead and zinc concentrations on the flood plain along the Spring River generally were less than the probable-effects concentration despite the inputs of contaminated sediment from several tributary streams. A primary reason for these uncontaminated areas downstream of the mining-affected lands is believed to be the dilution of the contaminated sediment by relatively clean sediment delivered by the Spring River.

Iowa Meteorite Crater Confirmed

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 5 Mar 2013 9:01:00 EDT

USGS Airborne Surveys Back Up Previous Decorah Research

Recent airborne geophysical surveys near Decorah, Iowa are providing an unprecedented look at a 470- million-year-old meteorite crater concealed beneath bedrock and sediments.

The aerial surveys, a collaboration of the U.S. Geological Survey with the Iowa and Minnesota Geological Surveys, were conducted in the last 60 days to map geologic structures and assess the mineral and water resources of the region.

"Capturing images of an ancient meteorite impact was a huge bonus," said Dr. Paul Bedrosian, a USGS geophysicist in Denver who is leading the effort to model the recently acquired geophysical data. "These findings highlight the range of applications that these geophysical methods can address."

In 2008-09, geologists from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (Iowa DNR) Iowa Geological and Water Survey hypothesized what has become known as the Decorah Impact Structure. The scientists examined water well drill-cuttings and recognized a unique shale unit preserved only beneath and near the city of Decorah. The extent of the shale, which was deposited after the impact by an ancient seaway, defines a "nice circular basin" of 5.5 km width, according to Robert McKay, a geologist at the Iowa Geological Survey.

Bevan French, a scientist the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, subsequently identified shocked quartz - considered strong evidence of an extra-terrestrial impact - in samples of sub-shale breccia from within the crater.

"The recognition of this buried geological structure was possible because of the collaboration of a local geologist, water well drillers, the USGS STATEMAP program, and the support of the Iowa DNR concerning research on fundamental aspects of Iowa geology," said McKay.

The recent geophysical surveys include an airborne electromagnetic system, which is sensitive to how well rocks conduct electricity, and airborne gravity gradiometry, which measures subtle changes in rock density. The surveys both confirm the earlier work and provide a new view of the Decorah Impact Structure. Models of the electromagnetic data show a crater filled with electrically conductive shale and the underlying breccia, which is rock composed of broken fragments of rock cemented together by a fine-grained matrix.

"The shale is an ideal target and provides the electrical contrast that allows us to clearly image the geometry and internal structure of the crater," Bedrosian said.

More analysis of the data will provide additional detail. These data show the impact as a nearly circular region distinct from the surrounding area to a depth of several hundred meters.

"These data, when coupled with physical property measurements on drill core samples, will form the basis for modeling efforts to constrain the impact geometry and energy of the meteorite," said Dr. Andy Kass, a USGS geophysicist working on the effort.

The Iowa and Minnesota airborne geophysical surveys are targeting an igneous intrusion, known as the Northeast Iowa Igneous Intrusive complex, that may be similar to the Duluth layered igneous complex exposed in the Lake Superior region of northern Minnesota. Known copper, nickel, and platinum group metal resources were deposited during the formation of the Duluth complex. Both of these complexes are associated with a large structural feature known as the Midcontinent Rift, which is exposed in the Lake Superior Region but is covered by younger rocks as it extends to the south through Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.

This geophysical survey is part of a larger USGS effort to evaluate the concealed mineral resource potential of the greater Midcontinent Rift region that formed about 1.1 billion years ago.

New USGS Report Updates Decline of High Plains Aquifer Groundwater Levels

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 7:48:52 EDT

The U.S. Geological Survey has released a new report detailing changes of groundwater levels in the High Plains Aquifer. The report presents water-level change data in the aquifer in two separate periods: from 1950–the time prior to significant groundwater irrigation development–to 2011, and 2009 to 2011.

In 2011, the total water stored in the aquifer was about 2.96 billion acre-feet, an overall decline of about 246 million acre-feet (or 8 percent) since pre-development. Change in water in storage from 2009 to 2011 was an overall decline of 2.8 million acre-feet. The overall average water-level decline in the aquifer was 14.2 feet from pre-development to 2011, and 0.1 foot from 2009 to 2011.

The study used water-level measurements from 3,322 wells for pre-development to 2011 and 7,376 wells for 2009 to 2011.

The High Plains Aquifer, also known as the Ogallala Aquifer, underlies about 112 million acres (175,000 square miles) in parts of eight states Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. The USGS, at the request of the U.S. Congress, has published reports on water-level changes in the High Plains Aquifer since 1988. Congress requested these reports in response to substantial water-level declines in large areas of the aquifer.

This multi-state, groundwater-level monitoring program has allowed water-level changes in all eight states to be tracked over time and has provided data critical to evaluating different options for groundwater management. This level of coordinated groundwater-level monitoring is unique among major, multi-state regional aquifers in the country.

The report "Water-Level and Storage Changes in the High Plains Aquifer, Predevelopment to 2011 and 2009–11" is available online.

Kansas and Oklahoma Lead Round 2

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 9:51:47 EDT

The release of new US Topo maps covering Kansas and Oklahoma usher in the second round of quadrangle revisions, updates and product improvement

Last September the U.S. Geological Survey marked the important milestone of completing the initial round of US Topo map production for the 48 contiguous states. The agency is continuing to improve the US Topo map product, moving into the second round of national map revisions. Hawaii is in production and Alaska production will start later this year.

The first two states to undergo this second US Topo map revision are Kansas and Oklahoma. The 1,403 quadrangles for Kansas and 1,032 quads covering Oklahoma replace the current US Topo maps, which will be added to the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection. All of these maps are available for free download from The National Map and the USGS Map Store website.

Other new feature additions and improvements on the updated US Topo maps include:

Woodland tint derived from the National Land Cover Dataset
Fire stations
Hospitals
State and county boundaries
Forest service boundaries
Commercial roads in lieu of census roads
Forest Service roads and road numbers

"We are excited to begin our second part of our three-year mapping cycle," said Mike Cooley, the US Topo Project Manager. "During the past year, more than 3,000 US Topo maps were downloaded every day, and that number continues to increase."

US Topos are derived from key layers of geographic data found in The National Map, which delivers visible content such as high resolution aerial photography, which was not available on older paper-based topographic maps. The new US Topo maps provide modern technical advantages that support wider and faster public distribution and on-screen geographic analysis tools for users.

Future enhancements to the US Topo are scheduled to include additional tools and map content such as a shaded relief layer, updated structures, enhanced transportation, additional federal boundaries and Forest Service trails. Wyoming, which was added in the fall of 2012, also featured Public Land Survey System (PLSS). The USGS expects to produce more than 18,500 revised quadrangles annually. US Topo maps are updated every three years.

The new digital electronic topographic maps are delivered in GeoPDF image software format and may be viewed using Adobe Reader, available as a no cost download.

For more information, visit US Topo Quadrangles - Maps for America.

Algal Toxin and Taste-and-Odor Transport in the Kansas River

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:01:00 EDT

Algal toxins and related taste-and-odor compounds were transported 173 miles down the Kansas River during reservoir releases in September and October of 2011, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study.

Results show that algal toxin levels did not exceed state public health warning levels downstream from affected reservoirs, and were not detected in finished drinking water from Kansas River sources.

The Kansas River is a primary drinking water source for about 800,000 people in Topeka, Lawrence, and Johnson County, Kan. Water released from Milford Lake to the Kansas River during a blue green algal bloom, also known as cyanobacteria, in late August 2011 prompted concerns about the potential transport of cyanobacteria and associated toxins and taste-and-odor compounds to downstream drinking-water supplies. While taste-and-odor compounds are not harmful, algal toxins at elevated levels can be harmful to people, aquatic life, pets and livestock. Results of this study can be found online.

"Harmful algal blooms are on the rise globally in both marine and freshwater systems; applying good science to understand their triggers is the first step to reducing their occurrence in the future," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "In the meantime, we must remain ever vigilant in our monitoring to assure citizens that their water supply is healthy and safe."

Algal toxins and taste-and-odor compounds were found in Milford Lake from September until mid-October 2011during sampling throughout the Kansas River, from the Milford Lake outlet to water intakes at Topeka, Lawrence, and WaterOne in Johnson County. This study is one of the first to quantitatively document the transport of cyanobacteria and associated compounds during reservoir releases, and improves understanding of the fate and transport of cyanotoxins and taste-and-odor compounds downstream from reservoirs

The World Health Organization has set a preliminary guideline for microcystin concentrations, which is a compound made by some cyanobacteria, in finished drinking water of one microgram per liter. This guideline is based on concentration in drinking water and assumes an adult consumes two liters per day for a lifetime. Recreational guidelines for microcystin cyanobacteria concentrations exceeding 20 micrograms per liter are used by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to issue a public health warning. Microcystin cyanobacteria concentrations in the Kansas River exceeded 1 microgram per liter upstream from Topeka during the first two weeks of September, but never exceeded the recreational guidelines.

On July 1, 2012 the USGS, in cooperation with the city of Topeka, the city of Lawrence, the city of Olathe, WaterOne, and the state of Kansas, started a five-year monitoring program for algal toxins and taste-and-odor compounds in the Kansas River. This supplemental program will complement ongoing monitoring conducted by the state of Kansas and the Corps of Engineers and provide additional information for public water suppliers and Kansas River water managers.

For more information about water treatment in Topeka, Lawrence, Olathe, and WaterOne, contact: David Bevens, dbevens@topeka.org; Jeanette Klamm, jklamm@lawrenceks.org; Michelle Wirth, mwirth@olatheks.org; and Mandy Cawby, mcawby@waterone.org.

For more information about this study or the monitoring program that began at the beginning of July, contact Katie Ingels, katie.ingels@kwo.ks.gov Kansas Water Office; for cyanobacterial blooms in Kansas contact Miranda Steele, msteele@kdheks.gov, Kansas Department of Health and Environment; for reservoir information, Dave Kolarik, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, david.s.kolarik@usace.army.mil.

A Big Day for Science: Citizens Have Contributed One Million Observations to Top Nature Database

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 3 May 2012 9:00:00 EDT

RESTON, Va. — Thanks to citizen-scientists around the country, the USA National Phenology Network hit a major milestone this week by reaching its one millionth nature observation.

The millionth observation was done by Lucille Tower, a citizen-scientist in Portland, Ore., who entered a record about seeing maple vines flowering. Her data, like all of the entries, came in through USA-NPN’s online observation program, Nature's Notebook, which engages more than 4,000 volunteers across the country to observe and record phenology – the timing of the recurring life events of plants and animals such as when cherry trees or lilacs blossom, when robins build their nests, when salmon swim upstream to spawn or when leaves turn colors in the fall.

Each record not only represents a single data point — the status of a specific life stage of an individual plant or animal on one day – but also benefits both science and society by helping researchers understand how plants and animals are responding to climate change and, in turn, how those responses are affecting people and ecological systems.

"My dream is that through the wonders of modern technology and the National Phenology Network we could turn the more than six billion people on the planet into components of our scientific observing system," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "We could make giant leaps in science education, improve the spatial and temporal coverage of the planet, lower the cost of scientific data collection, and all while making ordinary citizens feel a part of the scientific process."

Jake Weltzin, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist and the executive director of USA-NPN, concurs. "Hitting the one millionth observation is exciting because researchers and decision-makers need more information to understand and respond to our rapidly changing planet. More information means better-informed decisions that ensure the continued vitality of our natural areas that we all depend on and enjoy."

For example, said Weltzin, the data in Nature's Notebook are already being used to benefit society, including the development of more accurate indicators of spring, forecasting the onset of allergy seasons or the chances of western wildfires, managing wildlife and invasive plants, and setting goals for habitat restoration. Ultimately, such information can be used for better managing water resources, wildlife and ecosystem management, and even help farmers and ranchers across the nation.

Changes in phenology are among the most sensitive biological indicators of global change. Across the world, many springtime events are occurring earlier — and fall events happening later — than in the past. These changes are happening quickly for some species and more slowly, or not at all, for others, altering relationships and processes that have been dynamically stable for thousands of years. Some wildlife —like caribou and butterflies — are becoming mismatched from their plant food resources, which are responding differently. Migrations for some birds are changing too, as they can now overwinter instead of moving south for the winter, or as they fly north more quickly to keep pace with an advancing front of spring flowering.

Because of this, said Weltzin, scientists need more and better information about the pace and pattern of nature — locally to nationally — to answer important scientific and societal questions, and to build the tools and models needed to help people understand and adapt to the changes.

"So much of our improved understanding about global environmental changes is driven by varied and valuable sources of information that include networks of citizen-scientists," said John Wingfield, National Science Foundation’s assistant director for biological sciences. "The public at large has played an important role collecting observations and data for a hundred years and more. Knowledge and data gained from their work will continue to have a lasting effect on how we understand regularly recurring biological phenomena for hundreds of plant and animal species and contribute to the policy arena."

Gwen Lundburg in Seattle is one citizen-scientist who has contributed hundreds of entries into Nature’s Notebook. "Just noticing small changes like tiny purple lilac buds suddenly turning green has taught me to look more closely at my plants," Lundburg said. "I see things in my garden I never saw before."

With the help of citizen-scientist volunteers, working in concert with professionals, the USA-NPN, which was established in 2007, collects, stores and freely shares phenological data on more than 800 species of plants and animals. The Nature’s Notebook observing program has been in operation since 2009. The coordinating office of the organization is located at 1955 E. 6^th St., Tucson, Ariz., 85721. For more information, visit the USA National Phenology Network, or contact Jake Weltzin at 520-626-3821 or jweltzin@usgs.gov.

Irrigation Causing Declines in the High Plains Aquifer

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 14:15:40 EDT

Groundwater withdrawals for crop irrigation have increased to over 16 million acre-feet per year in the High Plains Aquifer, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study.

The USGS study shows that recharge, or the amount of water entering the aquifer, is less than the amount of groundwater being withdrawn, causing groundwater losses in this already diminished natural resource. Crop irrigation is the largest use of groundwater in the aquifer, and, over the past 60 years, has caused severe water-level declines of up to 100 feet in some areas. The new USGS findings address concerns about the long-term sustainability of the aquifer.

"The High Plains Aquifer is Nature's nearly perfect water storage system: self-recharging, safe from natural disasters, readily accessed over a broad area, and with copious capacity," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "And yet in less than 100 years we are seriously depleting what took Nature more than 10,000 years to fill."

The High Plains aquifer underlies about 175,000 square miles in parts of eight states – Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming – and is a major source of groundwater irrigation in the region. The High Plains region supplies approximately one-fourth of the nation’s agricultural production.

"Because groundwater losses are greater than recharge, water levels in many parts of the aquifer are currently declining," said Jennifer Stanton, USGS scientist and an author of the report. "Such information can inform groundwater management decisions made by state and local agencies."

The new USGS study also compares previously published data with new methods for estimating recharge and groundwater withdrawals and provides an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of those methods.

This USGS report is part of a larger study to evaluate groundwater availability of the High Plains Aquifer. The study is being conducted through the USGS Groundwater Resources Program to assist state and local groundwater management agencies and to assess the status of groundwater resources from a national perspective.

Click here to access the full report on line.

Kanopolis and Tuttle Creek Lakes Losing Storage Capacity

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:28:15 EDT

Kanopolis and Tuttle Creek Lakes in Kansas are losing water storage capacity because they retain at least 95 percent of the sediment transported by streams, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study.

Deposition of sediment reduces the ability for Kanopolis and Tuttle Creek Lakes to serve several purposes including flood control, water supply, and recreation.

As of 2010, water storage capacity in the multi-purpose pool of Kanopolis Lake, which is southwest of Salina, Kan., and Tuttle Creek Lake, near Manhattan, Kan., has decreased by 34 and 43 percent, respectively, according to Kansas Water Office estimates. Sources of sediment for both reservoirs from the upstream basin include soil erosion and channel-bank erosion. Immediately downstream, sediment-depleted water emerging from the dam caused channel-bed erosion. This study, done in cooperation between the USGS and the Kansas Water Office, can be found online.

"Rivers are powerful forces of nature that transport sediment from naturally-eroding mountains, hills, and plains to the sea," explained USGS director Marcia McNutt. "This USGS study demonstrates that the useful lifetime for the valuable services of man-made reservoirs, even in low relief areas, is measured in mere decades because they interrupt the natural sediment-transport processes."

At least 95 percent of the sediment delivered to Kanopolis and Tuttle Creek Lakes was permanently trapped and stored in the reservoir. Most of the sediment is delivered during storm runoff events, which occur for a relatively small percentage of the time during a given year.

"These findings greatly expand the state's knowledge of the conditions, functions and importance of our reservoirs," said Tracy Streeter, Director of the Kansas Water Office. "Tuttle Creek Reservoir is a vital source of water supply to the Kansas River Water Assurance District No.1 which is a collection of municipalities and industries representing approximately one-third the population of Kansas. Kanopolis Reservoir, one of the state’s oldest federal reservoirs, will play an important role in the future of water supply in the Lower Smoky Hill River basin."

The streambed of the Smoky Hill River immediately downstream from Kanopolis Lake has eroded more than six feet. Downstream from Tuttle Creek Lake, the bed of the Big Blue River has eroded more than four feet.

More information about USGS sediment studies can be found on the USGS Kansas Water Science Center website online.

Interior Releases First-of-its-Kind Regional Study as Part of National Assessment of Carbon Storage in U.S. Ecosystems

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 18:39:22 EDT

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of the Interior today released the first in a series of regional studies measuring the amount of carbon stored in U.S. ecosystems. Published by Interior's U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the study examines the current and projected future carbon storage in the Great Plains region, as part of a nation-wide assessment.

Interior Releases First-of-its-Kind Regional Study as Part of National Assessment of Carbon Storage in U.S. Ecosystems

Media Advisory: New Water Quality Study in Johnson County

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:16:04 EDT

What are the effects of urban pollutants in streams?

The effects of urbanization, wastewater discharge and treatment facility upgrades on Indian Creek, in Johnson County, Kan., will be evaluated in a new study developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Johnson County Wastewater.

Results from this study will assist water managers in making informed decisions to help protect this important resource. This study will provide Johnson County and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment an assessment of the environmental and biological conditions of Indian Creek after the expansion of the Middle Basin Wastewater Treatment Facility. This information will provide a better understanding of the effects of point and nonpoint source pollutants on urban streams.

What:	Reporters are invited to attend a kickoff event to announce the details of this new USGS study. Visual opportunities include hands-on demonstrations of water quality and biological sampling, including a net dip to collect macroinvertebrates, streamflow measurements, and water quality sampling with state-of-the-art equipment.
Who:	Andy Ziegler, USGS Kansas Water Science Center Director Jennifer Graham, USGS Research Hydrologist and Project Chief John O’Neil, General Manager, Johnson County Wastewater Susan Pekarek, Johnson County Wastewater Treatment Project Engineer
When:	10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011
Where:	4400 Indian Creek Parkway Overland Park, Kan. See map below for directions and parking suggestions.

Please RSVP to Donita Turk at 785-832-3570 or dmturk@usgs.gov.

In case of inclement weather, please call 785-979-7677.

Directions From I-435:
Take exit 77A for Roe Ave
Turn left on Roe Ave
Turn Right on Indian Creek Parkway
You can park in the parking lot of Foxhill North Park, Walk on the Indian Creek Bike Trail and meet up under the bridge over the creek and bike trail. Signs will direct you there.

Algal Toxins Transported to Kansas River from Milford Lake Release

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:47:41 EDT

Algal toxins were transported to the Kansas River by a controlled water release from Milford Lake on Aug. 31, according to U.S. Geological Survey water sampling.

The Kansas River is the drinking water source for more than 600,000 people in Topeka, Lawrence, and Johnson County, Kan. Water suppliers in these areas requested that the USGS sample the Kansas River to determine if algal toxins and taste and odor compounds were present. While taste-and-odor compounds are not harmful, algal toxins can be poisonous to people, aquatic life, pets and livestock.

An algal bloom caused the occurrence of algal toxins and taste-and-odor compounds in Milford Lake. Algal toxins and taste-and-odor compounds were found during sampling throughout the Kansas River from the Milford Lake outlet to water intakes at Topeka, Lawrence, and WaterOne in Johnson County. On Sept. 2, 8, and 12, the USGS sampled sites at Milford, Tuttle, Perry, and Clinton Lakes outlets and several Kansas River streamgage sites. As of Sept. 12, algal toxin levels have decreased upstream of Topeka, Lawrence and upstream of WaterOne in Desoto, Kan. Finished drinking water samples were tested in these areas and did not contain any traces of algal toxins.

Exposure to algal toxins can cause a range of symptoms in humans, including skin rashes, severe stomach upset, seizures, or even death. Pets and livestock are most susceptible to direct exposure, but people can also be affected during recreation, by eating contaminated foods, or by drinking contaminated water that has not been treated properly.

"Algal bloom events and associated toxin and taste and odor compounds continue to be a potential issue for recreation and water supply," said USGS Kansas Water Science Center Director, Andy Ziegler. "We must start with science to better understand the causes of algal blooms and establish monitoring networks in reservoirs and streams to act as early warning for management agencies to protect human and environmental health."

Algal toxin concentrations in releases from Tuttle Creek and Perry Lake were less than 0.1 microgram per liter in samples collected on Sept. 12; however, concentrations of taste and odor compounds were present.

Milford Lake closed to recreation activities by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on Aug. 29 because of a large blue-green algae bloom and occurrence of algal toxins. Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, can produce taste and odor compounds. On Aug. 31, the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers began releasing water from Milford Lake, Tuttle Creek and Perry Lake into the Kansas River. The combination of algal toxins being present and the water release raised concerns about the water quality of the Kansas River. Milford Lake is still listed by KDHE as being under a toxic algal warning as of Sept. 14.

The U.S. currently has not adopted any standards for microcystin or other algal toxins. The World Health Organization has set a preliminary guideline for microcystin concentrations in drinking water of one microgram per liter. This guideline is based on concentration in whole-water as ingested and assumes an adult consumes two liters per day for a lifetime. Recreational guidelines for microcystin concentrations exceeding 20 micrograms per liter are used by Kansas Department of Health and Environment to issue a public health warning.

Discussions of continued sampling associated with this event and longer term monitoring strategies are being discussed with the city of Topeka, the city of Lawrence, WaterOne, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas Water Office, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Current streamflow information for gages located downstream from the lakes and sampling sites on the Kansas River can be found online.

For more information about water treatment in Topeka, Lawrence, and WaterOne, contact: David Bevens, dbevens@topeka.org; Jeanette Klamm, jklamm@lawrenceks.org; and Eileen Koutelas, ekoutelas@waterone.org.

Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake Rattles Southern Colorado

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:28:23 EDT

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake rattled southern Colorado Monday, August 22, at 11:46PM MDT, causing strong shaking, but minor damage, and was felt throughout the state of Colorado and neighboring states. The USGS Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system issued a Green Alert, indicating a low probability for fatalities or significant economic losses.

The earthquake occurred approximately nine miles southwest of Trinidad, Colo.

This was the largest earthquake in Colorado since a M5.3 in August, 1967 at Rocky Mountain Arsenal. The largest earthquake in Colorado history was Nov 7th, 1882, near Rocky Mountain National Park; estimates vary but it was about a Magnitude 6.5.

Yesterday's M5.3 had three detected foreshocks (M4.6, 3.0 and 2.9), and there have been many recorded aftershocks.

Citizens who felt the earthquake can go online and report their observations on the USGS Did You Feel It? website. Over 1,000 reports of felt shaking have already been received from more than 200 zip codes in six states.

Earthquakes cannot be predicted. This area in Colorado has a history of earthquakes, notably a swarm that occurred in 2001, with earthquake magnitudes between M2.9 and 4.6. A USGS report on those earthquakes is available at the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program website.

For more information on earthquake and other hazards, please visit the USGS Natural Hazards website. The USGS operates a 24/7 National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo., that can be reached for more information at (303) 273-8500.

Flood Risk Determines Wetland Restoration Potential Along Missouri River

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:48:44 EDT

High or low flood risks can determine where wetland restoration might occur on the lower Missouri River, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center and the Nature Conservancy’s Missouri River Program.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has projected record flooding through mid-August for the lower Missouri River downstream of Gavins Point Dam, Yankton, S.D.

Areas along the lower Missouri River that have a greater risk of high floods tend to have a larger potential for wetlands restoration whereas those areas with a low potential for wetland restoration have a lower flood risk, the study’s authors noted. Consequently, restoring wetlands in the high-risk areas could lower flood costs and increase the ecological benefits of the river. The study is published in the journal Wetlands Ecology and Management and is available online.

"This study can be used by agencies, such as the Army Corps of Engineers, to help balance protecting the public from flood hazards and restoring wetland ecosystems," said USGS scientist and senior author of the study, Robert Jacobson, Ph.D. "Land managers can also use studies like this to assist them in making informed decisions about their property, farms and livelihood."

The study revealed that wetland restoration potential is not uniform along the river For example, areas just downstream of Gavins Point Dam have a lack of sediment, which has caused the river channel to deepen, leaving the floodplain in that area high and usually dry. These eroded areas have low potential for restoring wetlands and a relatively low flood hazard.

The amount of channel erosion begins to decrease about 60 miles downstream of the dam, resulting in more opportunity to get water to potential floodplain wetlands, and more flood risk. The stretch of the river with the highest wetland restoration potential is between Omaha, Neb. and St. Joseph, Mo. This area is also more susceptible to flooding than the remainder of the lower Missouri River.

More information about the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center is available online.

To learn more about the Nature Conservancy's Missouri River Program, visit their website.

Lichens May Aid in Combating Deadly Chronic Wasting Disease in Wildlife

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:00:50 EDT

MADISON, Wis. – Certain lichens can break down the infectious proteins responsible for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a troubling neurological disease fatal to wild deer and elk and spreading throughout the United States and Canada, according to U.S. Geological Survey research published today in the journal PLoS ONE.

Like other "prion" diseases, CWD is caused by unusual, infectious proteins called prions. One of the best-known of these diseases is "mad cow" disease, a cattle disease that has infected humans. However, there is no evidence that CWD has infected humans. Disease-causing prions, responsible for some incurable neurological diseases of people and other diseases in animals, are notoriously difficult to decontaminate or kill. Prions are not killed by most detergents, cooking, freezing or by autoclaving, a method used to sterilize medical instruments.

"When prions are released into the environment by infected sheep or deer, they can stay infectious for many years, even decades," said Christopher Johnson, Ph.D., a scientist at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and the lead author of the study. "To help limit the spread of these diseases in animals, we need to be able to remove prions from the environment."

The researchers found that lichens have great potential for safely reducing the number of prions because some lichen species contain a protease enzyme (a naturally produced chemical) capable of significantly breaking down prions in the lab.

"This work is exciting because there are so few agents that degrade prions and even fewer that could be used in the environment without causing harm," said Jim Bennett, Ph.D., a USGS lichenologist and a co-author of the study.

CWD and scrapie in sheep are different than other prion diseases because they can easily spread in sheep or deer by direct animal-to-animal contact or through contact with contaminated inanimate objects like soil. Chronic wasting disease was first diagnosed in the 1960s and has since been detected in 19 states and two Canadian provinces. CWD has been detected in wild elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and moose in North America.

Lichens, said Johnson, produce unique and unusual organic compounds that aid their survival and can have antibiotic, antiviral and other chemotherapeutic activities. In fact, pharmaceutical companies have been examining the medicinal properties of lichens more closely in recent years.

Lichens - which are often mistaken for moss - are unusual plant-like organisms that are actually a symbioses of fungi, algae and bacteria living together. They usually live on soil, bark, leaves and wood and can live in barren and unwelcoming environments, including the Arctic and in deserts.

Future work will examine the effect of lichens on prions in the environment and determine if lichen consumption can protect animals from acquiring prion diseases.

The study, “Degradation of the disease-associated prion protein by a serine protease from lichens,” was published in PLoS ONE and is freely accessible to the public. The study was authored by USGS scientists Christopher Johnson, James Bennett and Tonie Rocke, as well as authors from Montana State University and the University of Wisconsin.