Breakout Sessions

3D Printed Passive Samplers for PFAS Detection in Natural Waters – Edward Peltier and Nathaniel Sheehan (KU)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of diverse synthetic chemicals used in consumer products and for industrial purposes since the 1940s. According to the EPA, there are nearly 15,000 different PFAS. Due to their resistance to thermal and chemical degradation, these ‘forever chemicals’ are used in many applications, from fire-fighting foams to water- and stain-repellent materials. This widescale use and production resulted in the contamination of groundwater, surface water, and wastewater around the country, with implications for drinking water quality and water reuse activities. Recently, the EPA issued a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS compounds. The new regulations include a stringent maximum contaminant level (MCL) of four parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS and a unique hazard index approach to managing the potential harm from PFAS chemicals.

Low environmental PFAS contamination poses a significant challenge for accurately and precisely analyzing and detecting these compounds. To overcome this issue, we are developing passive samplers capable of concentrating PFAS compounds from environmental sources onto solid materials, allowing easy transportation to laboratories and recovery for analysis. Zeolites (aluminosilicate solids) are one such material that can aggregate PFAS onto a solid phase. The diversity of zeolite materials allows for significant advancement in optimizing their performance for monitoring low-level PFAS contamination in various water sources and improving the removal and detection of short-chain PFAS compounds. Zeolites have also shown the potential for PFAS desorption into chemical solutions, allowing for more accessible lab analysis and potential sampler reuse.

This presentation describes initial testing results for high-surface-area zeolite-based passive samplers under laboratory and simulated natural water conditions. These samplers consist of zeolite particles embedded into a clay matrix and 3D printed in a puck-shaped configuration in collaboration with the U.S. Army Engineers Research and Development Center Environmental Laboratory (ERDC EL). The pucks are designed to be deployed for PFAS monitoring in various environments (surface water, groundwater, and wastewater). The passive samplers can absorb and concentrate a range of PFAS compounds from solution, although very short-chain PFAS compounds (PFBA and PFBS) show minimal uptake. PFAS uptake occurs over multiple days, suggesting that transport limitations play a significant role in controlling the sorption process. After accumulation in the water, PFAS compounds can be recovered from the sampling pucks with a solution of 2% ammonium hydroxide in a methanol-water mixture. Based on these results, the 3D samplers can sorb PFAS at part-per-trillion levels and allow quantification on analytical instruments with detection limits in the part-per-billion range. The ability to improve the detection and determine the location of PFAS compounds is a significant step forward in protecting the health of Kansas communities impacted by PFAS contamination.

Supporting the Health of Kansans by Monitoring Wastewater for Diseases – John Anderson (KDHE)

Wastewater treatment and epidemiology have been linked since 1854 when John Snow identified that the cause of death of over 600 people in London was the contamination of drinking water with untreated human waste that contained cholera.  At KDHE, laboratorians and epidemiologists have implemented methods to measure the concentration of specific diseases in untreated wastewater and apply those findings to understand how diseases are impacting communities in Kansas.  Kansas currently has 20 facilities from 16 communities and 4 correctional facilities that share wastewater samples with laboratories to monitor diseases in their populations.   KDHE is monitoring wastewater for RSV, influenza A, influenza B, SARS-CoV-2, and norovirus.  In 2025, KDHE will add the ability to monitor West Nile Virus, hepatitis A, Candida auris, and emerging diseases. 

Interpreting disease concentration data from wastewater requires normalization and a clear understanding of inputs to the wastewater system.  After normalizing the concentration of each disease and controlling for wastewater inputs from confounding sources, up to 84% of the variation in cases of a disease can be projected using wastewater data, often before patients show up to healthcare providers to seek treatment.  Further analysis by sequencing SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater has identified when new variants enter Kansas weeks before the variant is identified in a patient.  Lastly, monitoring wastewater for diseases that people can transmit before they know they are sick, such as hepatitis A, has informed communities when they need to implement public health action to prevent disease transmission and test and treat patients before the outbreak spreads further.

Significant work has been conducted to develop a sustainable process for wastewater collection and shipping.  With CDC funding that has been secured through 2027, KDHE covers costs associated with collection supplies, shipping, and testing of all wastewater samples.  KDHE has also contracted with a courier drive to the facility and retrieve the samples that the wastewater staff have collected.  Through close collaboration with facilities, KDHE has reduced the time commitment for sample collection below 30 minutes per sample for facility staff.  This work has reduced the barrier for facilities to participate in wastewater monitoring.

Development of a network of facilities that monitor wastewater for diseases has increased our ability to identify local trends in disease spread.  Sharing the disease concentration data with communities has allowed local stakeholders to respond to diseases with more precision than relying on county, regional or statewide trends alone.

How to Optimize Water Infrastructure Planning and Design with Decarbonatization in Mind – Ghina Yamout (CDM Smith)

Water withdrawal is required to support the power industry, agriculture, municipalities, manufacturing, and resource extraction; an increased demand in sustainable energy solutions is pressing. Cross-sector guidance, best practices, and technologies are available to develop a tangible decarbonization strategy for water and wastewater utilities. The focus is on treatment process optimization, energy conservation, low-carbon fuels and consumables, biogas and methane recovery and use, lower aquifer storage, biosolids management, green infrastructure, and carbon credits.

Carbon emissions reduction is the first step towards decarbonization, with a focus on energy conservation and low-carbon fuels. Example initiatives are on-site and off-site renewables, energy efficiency and retro-commissioning, energy storage, heat recovery and use, and low- to zero-carbon emissions fleets. Carbon reduction capital projects should be built with grid electrification in mind to mitigate overdesign by aligning capital planning with regional energy utility efforts.

Biogas or methane recovery and use is an equally important first step towards decarbonization. Maximizing the quality and volume of biogas used as an energy source will directly reduce non-renewable energy imports. Carbon capture also needs to consider overall greenhouse gas leakage from the facility. This emerging field is focused on identification of vetted fugitive emissions monitoring tools and water treatment process optimization to mitigate generation of such emissions.

Decarbonization typically considers the full life cycle of a process; the subsequent steps focus on the use of low-carbon consumables and sustainable waste management. Significant efforts have been made in the availability and understanding of low-carbon alternatives, such as chemicals and media, filters, membranes, and construction materials, that the water sector can take advantage of immediately. The management of waste generated with circular economy in mind can reduce the carbon footprint associated with waste handling and treatment and avoid methane emissions generated by biosolids at a landfill.

In addition, green stormwater infrastructure and lower aquifer storage are planning practices that can result in reduced energy use needs at the facility. These can be implemented as part of regional decarbonization efforts, such as a state and municipal climate action plan or carbon reduction strategy. As a primary community stakeholder, municipalities and water utilities play an essential role in decarbonization to meet sustainability plans.

In conclusion, various resources are available to develop a decarbonization strategy. The case study will showcase decarbonization practices to highlight practical actions for reducing carbon emissions in energy production and the water and wastewater sector.

Environmental Justice in Kansas: Addressing Water Disparities through Pollution Prevention and Education – Cris Brazil and Arthur Fink (K-State)

Water disparities in Kansas pose significant challenges to both quality and quantity, disproportionately impacting communities based on socioeconomic and geographic factors. Recognizing these challenges, the Kansas State University’s Pollution Prevention Institute (PPI) has been working on addressing these issues through an integrated approach that combines pollution prevention, environmental justice, and education.

This presentation analyzes the state of water resources in Kansas and explains how PPI identifies regions burdened by environmental disparities using EPA tools to map and analyze clusters of water quality issues. This methodology not only highlights the areas most in need but also serves as a foundation for prioritizing our technical assistance initiatives.

Central to our strategy is the implementation of pollution prevention initiatives within the industrial sector. By focusing on water and energy conservation, as well as hazardous waste reduction, we aim to mitigate the adverse effects industries have on local water resources. Through case studies, we will demonstrate how these initiatives can successfully improve both the environmental and financial outcomes of Kansas industries. In the past five years, PPI has recommended source reduction projects that can save over 232 million gallons of water and reduce about 10 thousand pounds of hazardous materials being used by companies.

PPI’s commitment extends beyond technical solutions to fostering strong community ties and educational resources. We underscore the importance of raising awareness and engaging communities in sustainable water practices. Our educational programs and community involvement initiatives are designed to empower individuals and companies with the knowledge and tools to contribute to water conservation efforts and nurturing a culture of environmental stewardship.

This comprehensive approach ensures that all Kansans, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location, have access to clean, safe water. It also provides a framework for protecting our communities from water-related hazards, paving the way for a future where every Kansan enjoys the fundamental right to clean and safe water.

Effective Public Engagement Strategies and Solutions for Uncertain Times in Water Management – Nicole Wall and Stacey Roach (Olsson)

In this oral presentation session, participants will learn about public engagement strategies to plan for water management under an uncertain climate. The session will involve two Olsson experts and their professional portfolios that includes projects focused on water quantity and quality, local and regional planning efforts (including at the watershed level), and flood-drought resiliency. They will also educate the attendees on best management practices using a variety of engagement strategies that include applications of the International Association of Public Participation spectrum, scenario-based exercises, workshops, and other techniques that have utilized a variety of techniques to garner stakeholder trust and public buy-in. 

Inclusive Water Resources Planning: Missteps, Baby Steps, and Giant Steps towards “Water is for Everyone” – Jennifer Henggeler (USACE)

The US Army Corps of Engineers is committed to inclusivity while investigating water resource issues. This includes capturing and documenting social, economic, and environmental effects. Governor Kelly has charged the Kansas Water Authority to “apply the same long range, inclusive (emphasis added), nimble and well-financed approach to our water issues that the state has to transportation.”

But what does inclusive water resources planning look like and why does it matter to Kansas residents?

This session will draw from findings in the Kansas River Reservoir Flood and Sediment Study to identify communities that may be challenged to address future threats to water quality and quantity as well as impairments to reservoirs. Applying an inclusive planning process, the session will outline the expanding toolbox to help water planners include all community members in planning and decision making about future water needs in Kansas.

Assessing changes in stream nitrate concentrations and transport patterns from expanding corn-soy cultivation in the Great Plains – Breanna Rivera-Waterman and Amy Hanson (KU)

The Great Plains region has experienced rapidly expanding corn-soybean cultivation, largely driven by government subsidies to meet biofuel demands, since the mid-2000’s. Expanding corn-soy cultivation typically replaces small grains and grassland, resulting in increasing nitrogen inputs into soils and exports to downstream water bodies. Regions that have experienced decades of intense corn-soy cultivation, such as the US Corn belt, now have nitrogen-saturated landscapes and contribute to degraded water quality at regional to national scales. However, the landscapes of the Great Plains differ from the Corn Belt, in terms of climate and soils, making the consequences of expanding corn-soy cultivation on water quality uncertain here. To address this uncertainty, we compiled and analyzed public datasets (from EPA and USGS) to investigate nitrate concentration-discharge relationships for 60 midwestern watersheds, including 10 in Kansas. The relationship between changes in nitrate concentration with changes in discharge provides information on the source of nitrate and how it is transported to streams. For example, if nitrate is sourced from shallow soils across the landscape, nitrate will increase with discharge, suggesting that nitrate concentrations are limited by the transport to streams. Conversely, when nitrate is not widespread on the landscape or is sourced from deeper soils or groundwater, nitrate concentrations will decrease with discharge. Using the nitrate-discharge data with statistical analyses (Student t-tests and linear mixed effect models), we assessed how nitrate concentrations and transport to streams vary over space (across different land resource regions, climates, soils) and time (pre-post 2007). We split the dataset into two time periods based on the implementation of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), which was an influential policy on corn-soy subsidies, and thus land use practices. Our findings show that nitrate concentrations and relationships with discharge have changed from pre-post 2007, but changes vary by watershed land use (current coverage and rate of change), hydrology (high/storm versus low/stable flows), climate, and soil sand content. Generally, we observe that in watersheds with over 50% corn-soy cover nitrate concentrations are increasing with discharge, indicating nitrate has accumulated in soils and/or shallow groundwater. In contrast, in watersheds with less than 50% corn-soy cover and minimal change to corn-soy, nitrate concentrations decrease with discharge, indicating that nitrate is limited. In watersheds undergoing high rates of change, nitrate concentrations and relationships with discharge generally fall between the corn-soy dominated and undisturbed sites, suggesting that watersheds currently undergoing high rates of change but are not yet dominated by corn-soy, such as many central to western Kansas watersheds, are at a critical point for nitrate management. 

Regulatory Monitoring and Enforcement at Animal Feeding Operations: The Effects on Surface Water Quality in Kansas – Dietrich Earnhart (KU)

The Clean Water Act has historically regulated point source dischargers through its permitting program, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES). To deter non-compliance with NPDES permits, EPA and authorized state agencies administer interventions, such as inspections and monetary penalties, at regulated operations. Agricultural and other nonpoint sources have typically been exempted from such permits and their associated regulatory interventions. However, EPA updated the NPDES program to require permits for certain animal feeding operations (AFOs) that produce large amounts of manure in concentrated geographies and have the potential to contribute to surface waterbody impairments. This study contributes to the literature on the effectiveness of regulatory interventions by examining the efficacy of NPDES regulatory monitoring and enforcement at permitted AFOs in the US. Unlike point sources, permitted AFOs typically do not face numeric discharge limits; instead, they can contribute to surface waterbody pollution through nonpoint source runoff rather than through direct discharge. To accommodate this setting, we examine the efficacy of AFO-related regulatory interventions indirectly by assessing their impacts on surface water quality, which should reflect the effects of any improved environmental (manure) management. Our analysis leverages within-AFO variation in experiences with regulatory interventions (inspections, informal enforcement actions, and monetary penalties), along with the upstream and downstream nature of the U.S. stream and river network, to identify the effects of regulatory interventions on downstream concentrations of total phosphorus and ammonia, as compared to upstream concentrations. We find that NPDES monitoring and enforcement at regulated AFOs appeared to decrease downstream concentrations of total phosphorus and ammonia. We highlight two notable patterns. First, federal inspections, relative to state inspections, lead to larger downstream decreases in concentrations of both pollutants. Second, the threat of regulatory interventions, i.e., general deterrence, leads to larger water quality improvements than the interventions themselves, i.e., specific deterrence. Collectively, our results suggest that the recent public investments into regulatory monitoring and enforcement at AFOs generate water quality benefits.

Bromide Concentrations in the Kansas River at De Soto, Kansas, January 2021 through October 2023  - Thomas Williams (USGS)

The Kansas River is an essential water resource that provides drinking water to more than 950,000 people in northeastern Kansas. Water suppliers that use the Kansas River as a water-supply source employ physical and chemical water-treatment strategies to remove contaminants before distribution. Water District No. 1 of Johnson County, Kansas (WaterOne), uses the Kansas River to provide drinking water to the Kansas City metropolitan area and has used ozone disinfection as a primary water-treatment strategy since 2020. Water suppliers that rely on ozone disinfection have become increasingly concerned with the presence of elevated bromide concentrations in their water-supply source. Ozone disinfection of source water containing elevated concentrations of bromide can lead to the formation of bromate, a regulated disinfection byproduct and probable carcinogen. Real-time computations of bromide concentrations upstream from the WaterOne source-water intake in the Kansas River will assist with proactive adjustment of water-treatment strategies.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with WaterOne, collected specific conductance and bromide sample data at the Kansas River at De Soto, Kansas, during January 2021 through October 2023 to develop a surrogate-regression model using ordinary least squares regression that computes real-time bromide concentrations at De Soto, located about 15 miles upstream from the WaterOne source-water intake in the Kansas River. Specific conductance explained about 85 percent of the variance in bromide concentrations during the study period. The surrogate-regression model estimated that bromide concentrations at De Soto were likely to exceed the WaterOne treatment level of concern when specific conductance was greater than or equal to about 930 microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius. Bromide concentrations in samples ranged from 31.9 micrograms per liter (µg/L) to 251 µg/L and exceeded the water-treatment level of concern (150 µg/L) in about 34 percent of the 41 samples collected at De Soto during the study period. Computed daily bromide concentrations ranged from 38.2 µg/L to 277 µg/L and exceeded the water-treatment level of concern about 46 percent of the time during the study period. Generally, there was an inverse relation between bromide and streamflow, with higher bromide concentrations observed during September through February and lower bromide concentrations observed during March through August.

The real-time computations of bromide concentrations (available at the USGS National Real-Time Water-Quality website (https://nrtwq.usgs.gov) and historical patterns in bromide at De Soto can aid water suppliers in proactively adjusting water-treatment strategies to reduce the risk of bromate formation during ozone disinfection and evaluating potential changes in bromide concentrations in the Kansas River over time.

Where is it coming from? A modeling assessment of the larger-than-expected inflow to the depleting High Plains Aquifer in Kansas – Gaisheng Liu (KGS)

Recent studies have found that the High Plains aquifer (HPA) in Kansas has received more recharge than previously determined. However, questions remain about the primary source of this larger-than-expected inflow and how it will change with time under different hydrogeologic, climatic and water use conditions. Several potential sources have been suggested including irrigation return flow, enhanced precipitation recharge by crop irrigation, drainage delayed by low permeability sediments, enhanced lateral flow produced by water level declines, and increased recharge by playas and formerly perennial stream channels. Clearly, identifying and quantifying the major sources of the additional inflow are important for designing more effective water management strategies. In this work we show, through a series of modeling investigations in Groundwater Management Districts (GMD) #1, 3, and 4 in semi-arid western Kansas, that delayed drainage by low permeability sediments is likely the major source of this additional inflow since the onset of large-scale pumping for irrigated agriculture. Furthermore, as the rate of water-level decline is decreased by reductions in pumping (either through management efforts or decreases in aquifer thickness), delayed drainage is expected to gradually decrease with time, indicating more significant pumping reductions will be needed in future groundwater conservation efforts. Based on the estimated net inflows, percentages of pumping reductions are calculated for stabilizing water levels in different GMDs over the next twenty to forty years.

Lifting the Fog of Aquifer Heterogeneity: An Airborne Electromagnetic Survey of the High Plains Aquifer in Northwest Kansas – Jim Butler (KGS)

The High Plains aquifer (HPA) in western Kansas is under significant stress as a result of decades of intensive pumping for irrigation. The large water-level declines that have been observed across the region pose an existential threat to the viability of irrigated agriculture and the rural communities that depend on it. This situation has led to a growing interest in charting more positive paths forward for the aquifer. However, modeling in support of these efforts has been hampered by the uncertainty introduced by the highly heterogeneous nature of the HPA. We are attempting to diminish this heterogeneity-induced uncertainty using airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys. AEM technology provides information about subsurface materials to a depth of about 1,000 ft. The AEM equipment consists of a large helicopter-towed hexagonal frame that is positioned 100-150 ft above land surface and about 200 ft below the helicopter. Electromagnetic pulses traveling around the frame induce eddy currents in the subsurface. The secondary magnetic field generated by those eddy currents is measured at the null point on the frame; that measurement provides information about the electrical resistivities of subsurface materials. In general, sands and gravels have relatively high resistivities, while silts, clays, and shale bedrock have relatively low. In mid-June of this year, we completed an AEM survey of 3,932 km (2,443 miles) in length in the HPA in Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 4 (GMD4). The nearly continuous data along the AEM survey lines enable us to develop new insights into the factors responsible for the distribution of pumping wells in GMD4, while also providing important information about aquifer conditions in areas with little data. Preliminary results of considerable practical import include detection of spatial variations in the depth to bedrock and the nature of the aquifer materials. In addition, preliminary survey results hint at the existence of preferential recharge paths. We are currently using sedimentologic principles to integrate the AEM resistivity data with the KGS log database; that work will be reported on in another presentation at this conference. Given the promising results of the AEM survey in GMD4, we expect a similar survey to be performed in GMD1 in 2025. We are hopeful that the results of these projects will help change the narrative of what the future holds for the High Plains aquifer in western Kansas.

Integration of Airborne Electromagnetic and Sediment Log Data for Characterization of the High Plains Aquifer in Portions of Groundwater Management District 4 – Geoffrey Bohling (KGS)

We will describe the integration of electrical resistivity data from the recently completed airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey in Groundwater Management District 4 (GMD4) with aquifer sediment logs obtained by geologists and water well drillers.  While the logs directly describe sediments, they are qualitative and subjective, highly variable in quality, haphazardly distributed in space, and subject to location uncertainty.  In contrast, the AEM data is quantitative, precisely located, and more densely and regularly distributed, particularly in the detailed study areas, but do not uniquely indicate sediment type.  In general, sands and gravels are more electrically resistive than clays and silts, but other factors, such as saturation state, pore water specific conductance, and cementation, also affect resistivity.  Importantly, the AEM data provide information regarding the lateral extent of sediment bodies that is almost impossible to obtain from the logs.  To combine the information from these two data sets, we will first estimate the resistivity distributions for different sediment types by comparing logs with nearby AEM data.  Based on that information, we will use the more densely distributed AEM data to update an initial model of sediment distribution developed solely from the logs; this will be done in a fashion that accounts for the variability of resistivity values within each sediment type.  We anticipate presenting results for one or two of the more detailed AEM survey areas in GMD4.

Woody plant encroachment in Kansas rangelands threatens sustainable water resources – Jesse Nippert (K-State)

Woody plant encroachment is a global phenomenon, and now represents the most widespread threat to grassland conservation after conversion to row-crop agriculture. The consequences of woody plant encroachment on ecosystem structure and function are pervasive. The aboveground consequences of encroachment are well studied. For example, woody plant encroachment typically results in reduced plant and animal biodiversity, loss of suitable habitat for obligate small mammals and birds, and increased threat of diseases carried by ticks. Alterations in aboveground ecosystem structure also reduces forage availability for range management, resulting in billions of dollars of lost revenue for the cattle industry in the United States alone.

The consequences of encroachment on belowground ecosystem dynamics are less well known. Shifts from grass-dominated to shrub- or tree-dominated at the landscape-scale disrupts C, water, and nutrient cycling throughout grasslands. Ecohydrology studies have shown that woody encroachment alters catchment water budgets and recharge rates, runoff generation mechanisms and amounts, the relative contributions of deeper flow paths to streams, and stream discharge and intermittency. Moreover, the replacement of a grassy ecosystem with a woody ecosystem has uncertain impacts on C sequestration due to alterations in soil carbon dioxide fluxes, increased bedrock weathering rates, and changes in labile soil organic carbon accumulation.

In this presentation, I will use examples from the Konza Prairie (Manhattan, KS) over the past decade that illustrate linkages between above- and below-ground ecosystem processes following encroachment.  In particular, this research shows the mechanisms by which woody vegetation accelerates water cycling and alters the distribution of C within the soil profile. Coarse woody roots appear to create larger soil macropores that speed up rates of infiltration to the groundwater, a process that alters belowground C distribution. Larger macropores also reduce water residence time in surface soils and along with higher ET result in longer-term drying trends in grassland ecosystems. The results from Konza Prairie illustrate how the replacement of grass with woody species in grasslands magnifies water loss above and belowground leading to greater water scarcity in Kansas. 

Building Partnerships to Protect Rathbun Lake – Martin Braster (Rathburn Land and Water Alliance)

Since 1996, the Rathbun Land and Water Alliance has focused its efforts on developing partnerships to protect and improve water quality in Rathbun Lake. Rathbun Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ reservoir located in south central Iowa. The lake is the source of water for Rathbun Regional Water Association, the largest rural water system in Iowa. Rathbun Lake also provides recreational opportunities for one million visitors annually and fish and wildlife habitat in the 11,000-acre lake and on surrounding public land. Water quality in Rathbun Lake is impacted by high loads of sediment and sediment-bound phosphorus carried in runoff primarily from land used for row crop production in the watershed. The Alliance and partners have worked with hundreds of landowners to apply best management practices on private land as well as installed practices on public land in the Rathbun Lake watershed. These practices have reduced sediment and phosphorus delivery to the lake and helped achieve a stable to improving trend in water quality. To date, more than $40 million has been invested in Rathbun Lake protection efforts. Partners that have provided this support include numerous private and public entities at the local, state, and national levels. A representative of the Alliance will share experiences from close to three decades of building partnerships to protect Rathbun Lake.

Bringing Life Back to Methodist Cove; Harlan County Lake Ecosystem Restoration Section 1135 Project – Brad Schleeter (Olsson) and Leigh Mitchell (USACE)

Harlan County Lake was built in the 1950’s by US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as a multipurpose lake project for the authorized purposes of flood control, irrigation water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Located in south central Nebraska, Harlan County Lake is a 13,500-acre reservoir located on the main-stem of the Republican River near Republican City and Alma, Nebraska. The project location at Methodist Cove is located on the north side of the reservoir approximately two miles east of Alma. 

Harlan County Lake is in a region with thick deposits of highly erodible loess soils (soils resulting from deposit of wind-blown silt into sediment layers, common in the Midwest). During periods of high lake levels, wave action along the shoreline erodes the loess soils which are then deposited into the lake. Wind, waves, and water current patterns transport eroded sediments throughout the lake resulting in sediment being deposited in several cove entrances, blocking access to these coves for both fish and boats during low water periods. Many species of fish and other aquatic organisms depend on these shallow backwater habitats for part or all their lifecycle and are negatively impacted by the severe erosion and resulting sedimentation. When water levels are low, fish species are unable to reach the coves which provide critical spawning and rearing habitat. Non-availability of critical habitat causes some species to spawn in less desirable areas of the lake, resulting in reduced spawning success, slower growth, poor recruitment, decreased population numbers, and lower overall species diversity. Further, some coves are partially sediment filled, reducing spawning area when coves are accessible and/or encouraging spawning to occur in less preferred areas, resulting in less successful spawning, nest, hatching, and egg survival.  

The purpose of the Harlan County Lake Ecosystem Restoration project is to restore and protect aquatic habitat within Methodist Cove that has been negatively impacted by sedimentation that has occurred since the completion of the lake. This project proposes measures aimed at removing sediment and reestablishing depth diversity and fish habitat within the cove, protecting the cove and cove entrance from future shallow sediment deposition, and stabilizing the shoreline near the cove to reduce lake shore erosion. Ancillary benefits of this project include sustainment of recreational lake activities and associated resources in the areas near the habitat restoration and protection of sensitive cultural resources.

This presentation will provide an overview of the USACE Section 1135 program and dive into the details of the aquatic habitat restoration activities aimed at increasing fish populations, improving habitat, and increasing the recreational benefits within Harlan County Lake.   

Integrating and Aggregating Kansas Water Data – William Duncan (KU)

This Kansas Water Hub is a National Science Foundation-funded project that focuses on integrating and aggregating publicly-available data in Kansas that speaks to the Kansas Water Plan. The project is working with a variety of partners to develop a public-facing dashboard that provides information about the pillars of the Kansas Water Plan and work that is undertaken at the local and state level to preserve and protect Kansas’ water future.

In particular, this presentation will highlight work done in two areas of the project. The first area focuses on understanding the relationship between state conservation incentive programs and changes in reported groundwater use. This effort links data on land use as well as active conservation programs in Kansas with reported well use collected by the Division of Water Resources and housed by the Kansas Geological Survey. Looking at patterns in land use and conservation programs, the project hopes to better quantify the impact conservation incentive programs have on water use. 

The second area focuses on understanding patterns in city water quality testing reported in Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs). This effort scrapes data from online Consumer Confidence Reports submitted to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and published on their website. The CCR information is collected over time using the Way Back Machine to find historical data and integrate the individual CCRs submitted by public water systems into a large dataset of all publicly-available CCRs. Integrating this information with geographical identifiers allows the project to connect the CCR data with KDHE surface water quality testing data and seeks to establish a relationship between the levels of certain contaminants in surface water with the levels of those contaminants seen in public drinking water supply after treatment. One purpose of this work is to establish a cost to cleaning using an Environmental Protection Agency framework for the cost to treat water for contaminant levels.

Kansas Water Hub – Vijay Ramasamy (Governor's Office)

Accessing Technical Assistance through the Kansas Infrastructure Hub – Matt Volz (Kansas Infrastructure Hub)

The Kansas Infrastructure Hub is Kansas’ coordinated approach identifying best practices from across the nation for deploying funds and maximizing Kansas’ Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding opportunities. A multi-state agency steering committee has been established and includes representatives from the Kansas Departments of Administration, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Environment, Emergency Management, and Transportation, as well as the Kansas Corporation Commission and Kansas Water Office.  The Hub is engaged with federal and local agencies to develop partnerships and seek grant funds to strengthen Kansas infrastructure.  Water, Transportation, Energy, Broadband, Cybersecurity, and Resilience are infrastructure areas the Hub is focused on. The Hub’s Team is offering free technical assistance to any eligible entity developing a project located in Kansas that will be funded all or in part by a discretionary grant from BIL. Technical assistance includes program-specific webinars, grants capacity development, and grants management support such as research and application coaching. Additionally, the Hub is serving as the processing and clearinghouse for the Build Kansas Fund which is providing $200M in local matching funds over the life of the fund, Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2027, for Kansas projects funded through the BIL.  The presentation will focus on the purpose of the Hub and the services offered, as well as the status of projects in Kansas already receiving Federal grants and funding from the Build Kansas Fund. 

Empowered Educators: Enhancing Water Education and Community Leadership Across Kansas – Laura Downey and Rachel Walhe (KACEE)

The Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) has embarked on an innovative initiative to bolster leadership and engagement in water education within communities across the state. This presentation will delve into the strategies and outcomes of KACEE's collaborative efforts with teachers to enrich environmental curricula and foster community involvement in K-12 water education.

Participants will explore how KACEE's professional development programs equip educators with the knowledge, resources, and skills necessary to teach students about the critical importance of water in their communities. By integrating hands-on activities, interdisciplinary approaches, and local water issues into their teaching, educators are not only enhancing student learning but also inspiring community-wide water education and action.

The session will highlight success stories from various educators, showcasing how these educational initiatives have led to increased awareness, stewardship, and student connections to water in their communities. Attendees will leave with practical insights and opportunities to expand this program in their communities, ultimately contributing to a more informed and engaged citizenry committed to preserving Kansas' vital water resources.

Finding the Next Generation of Water Workforce – Tonya Bronleewe and Analisa Munhall (Environmental Finance Center, Wichita State University)

Safe and reliable drinking water and proper wastewater reclamation are vital to healthy communities and prospering economies. Many of Kansas’ water and wastewater operators are set to retiring, leaving a workforce gap that could impact public health and economic growth. The Environmental Finance Center will share the resources and opportunities available to promote the water careers to the next generation in your community or across the state to keep our Kansas water future bright.

Conservation Program Assistance Directory – Katie Goff (Kansas Water Office)

Implementing conservation practices can be a daunting task. Conservation practices can be expensive and require expertise or planning that producers or landowners may not have. The Kansas Water Office created a tool to house a directory that details financial and technical assistance programs available to producers and landowners interested in implementing conservation practices on their property. The tool details the many governmental, non-profit, and private entities that can be of assistance – all in one place. This session will highlight the many entities and organizations that contributed to the tool, along with directory tips and tricks.

How partnerships and planning play a part in proper playa performance – Miruh Hamend (Playa Lakes Joint Venture)

In Kanas, the playa conservation journey has been an arc from almost no understanding of playa function and recharge benefits to now being considered alongside other significant water conservation efforts across western Kansas. This session will review the playa conservation journey from its beginnings to how programs and initiatives today are focusing on playa conservation to benefit both communities and wildlife over the Ogallala aquifer. Most importantly, this session will invoke a discussion on how playa conservation can be scaled up to meet the moment in providing our future water.

Remote Sensing and Machine Learning for Wetland Identification – Devin Wilson (CDM Smith)

Wetlands provide numerous benefits and values to society and the environment, from providing habitat and hunting opportunities for ducks and other waterfowl, attenuating flooding, enhancing water quality, controlling erosion, and providing hotspots for biodiversity.  Assessing the extent of wetlands is critical to understanding the feasibility of building infrastructure projects, site development, and other prospective land uses.  Wetlands are governed by various state and federal regulations, so it is important to understand the boundaries of wetlands in order avoid and minimize impacts in the planning and design phases of projects.  If wetlands are impacted, mitigation is required, often costing tens of thousands of dollars per acre of wetlands disturbed.  Accurately estimating wetland extents is critical in determining the feasibility and cost to develop a site or to build a project.

Current methods to evaluate the type and spatial extent of wetlands have relied on extensive field efforts that are time intensive, and often located in remote areas that are difficult to access.  Current desktop analysis is often based on outdated information or data with low spatial resolution.  Existing machine learning models for wetlands identify and map wetlands at regional scales, but their effectiveness might be less effective when compared to traditional field wetland delineations.

CDM Smith created a machine learning model to delineate wetland boundaries using high-resolution LiDAR and publicly available multispectral National Imagery Program (NAIP) data for projects across multiple geographies. CDM Smith utilized several approaches to train the model on site-specific data to save time while increasing accuracy, and developed multiple model iterations with different sites and combinations of data. Combing high-resolution spatial datasets and leveraging machine learning allows for rapid wetland identification and quantification in a repeatable manner, which allows for the tracking of changes over time. Overall, the machine learning model accuracy was high, ranging from 70 to 90 percent.

A machine learning model based on quality digital data provides a variety of benefits ranging from identification to assessment. The high volume of quality data can help reduce and eliminate the potential for areas of omission, help field staff avoid dangerous environments, and expedite project timelines. The digital data utilized for the wetland machine learning model can also be leveraged to aid in site development and infrastructure design, H&H design, mapping vegetative communities, identifying sensitive habitats, and locating archeological features. This machine learning model can be applied to site-specific regions and ecosystem types and optimized using additional site-specific data. The model can then be reapplied over time and eliminates the subjectivity that can come from variable human-based assessments.

Crop Yield Tendencies of Farmed Playas – Jude Kastens (KBS)

In collaboration with the Kansas Water Office and the Kansas Geological Survey on an EPA Wetland Program Development Grant, researchers at the Kansas Biological Survey obtained yield map data from dryland fields in west-central Kansas containing farmed playas. After screening, 34 field-yield datasets remained for analysis, with information from five fields (totaling 949 acres, including 93 acres in playas), nine years (2015-2023), and three crop types (wheat, corn, milo) represented among the samples. Yield from playa land (i) averaged 90% of field average yield; (ii) was more volatile than yield from non-playa land; and (iii) was strongly inversely correlated with yield from non-playa land. These and other observations will be described.

Has water conservation in the Sheridan-6 LEMA propagated outside of the area? – Donald Whittemore (KGS)

Water conservation practices in the Sheridan-6 Local Enhanced Management Area (SD-6 LEMA) in Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District 4 (GMD4) have saved groundwater and substantially slowed the rate of water-level decline in the High Plains aquifer (HPA) within its 99 mi² area. Irrigation water savings during the 2013–2023 LEMA operation compared to the pre-LEMA period of 2002–2012 was 34% based on a plot of annual PRISM precipitation versus annual irrigation water use that adjusts for climatic conditions; the water-level decline rate has been reduced by 69% adjusted for climate. This was mainly achieved by decreasing the application rate (irrigation water use per irrigated area) 33% (from 14.1 inch to 9.4 inch) also adjusted for climate. A small amount of water savings resulted from a 2.7% decrease in the average irrigated area.

So now a question arises, have irrigators outside the LEMA started to adopt these conservation practices and have they significantly affected the HPA during the LEMA compared to the pre-LEMA period? For that comparison, an area of 195 mi² was selected around the LEMA; the outside area comprises a 3-mi wide strip around the LEMA in Sheridan County and a 2-mi wide strip around the small extension of the LEMA into Thomas County. Plots of PRISM precipitation versus annual irrigation water use and application rate indicate a transition period of 2013–2016 during which values for use and application rate fall slightly below the best-fit lines for 2002–2012. However, during 2017–2023 there is a clear shift to lower use and application rates for given climatic conditions. Irrigation water savings achieved for 2017–2023 compared to 2002–2012 was 23% and the application rate fell by 27% (from 13.3 inch to 9.7 inch), both adjusted for climatic conditions. The average irrigated area decreased by a small amount (4.6%) between the two periods. Thus, most of the water savings was achieved by a smaller irrigation application rate. The water-level decline rate decreased by 65% for 2017–2023 compared to 2002–2012 adjusted for climate. Thus, the area surrounding the LEMA has adopted conservation practices during 2017–2023 that have produced irrigation water savings approximately two thirds of that within the LEMA and a decrease in the water-level decline rate only a little less than that for the LEMA.

Efficiency and water use:  Dynamic effects of irrigation technology adoption – Micah Cameron-Harp and Nathan Hendricks (K-State)

As global aquifer levels continue to decline, clarifying the impact of irrigation efficiency improvements on water resources is critically important. Kansas is an ideal study area as it lies above one of the world’s largest and most rapidly depleting freshwater aquifers, the High Plains Aquifer. In this work, we use two transitions in irrigation technology to investigate how improvements in irrigation efficiency impact groundwater withdrawals. We find irrigators who switched from flood to center pivot irrigation avoided reducing irrigated acreage by decreasing withdrawals immediately after changing technologies. Therefore, the higher efficiency of the new technology extended the productive life of the aquifer. For the conversion from traditional center pivot to Low Energy Precision Application (LEPA) irrigation—a more efficient center pivot system—we find minimal impacts on withdrawals in the short run and steadily larger decreases over several years.

In summary, we find no significant evidence that efficiency improvements caused an increase in resource extraction, a phenomenon known as Jevon’s paradox. These results stand in stark contrast to prior literature which suggested adoption of LEPA increased groundwater withdrawals. The dynamic effects we find explain this difference in findings and, perhaps more importantly, reveal irrigators’ process of adaptation to each new technology at the intensive and extensive margins. Finally, while we do not find evidence of Jevon’s paradox, we do find the observed reductions in withdrawals are smaller than expected for both technology transitions. The magnitudes of the reductions in withdrawals suggest ex-ante engineering estimates of water savings from the efficiency improvements are overly optimistic. 

Environmental Governance of the High Plains Aquifer: What irrigation policy looks like on, or below, the ground – Adam Zwickle (Michigan State University)

The High Plains Aquifer is one of the largest and most relied upon aquifers in the world, providing water to nearly 30% of all irrigated agricultural land in the United States and drinking water to approximately 2,000,000 people. Because of this heavy usage and exceedingly long recharge time, groundwater levels in some areas of the aquifer have dropped by up to 60%. Each year an average of 2 feet of water is removed while only 3 inches of water returns as recharge. The decline of the aquifer poses not only economic risks to farmers who rely on irrigated crops for their income, but also risks to freshwater ecosystems, food security, and human health.

Reversing this unsustainable rate of overconsumption poses serious challenges to risk governance. State and federal policies have primarily focused on cost share programs encouraging farmers to upgrade to more efficient irrigation technology. Using groundwater level data collected from farmer wells in Kansas, our analysis shows that switching to efficient irrigation technology actually results faster aquifer declines. To explain this perverse outcome, our team utilized remote sensing data to show that rather than reducing the amount of water they pumped, farmers instead expanded the amount of land they irrigated. The result of irrigating more land with the same amount of water was an increase in evapotranspiration, leading to greater losses from the system.

Drawing from Ostrom’s work on common pool resource governance, we discuss different approaches to a more sustainable irrigation policy. Reducing or constraining existing water rights is problematic for both political and legal reasons. One group of farmers in western Kansas, however, has come together in a form of “mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon” to voluntarily restrict their own withdrawals. We talk about the success of this governance approach, as well as the risks associated with replicating it at a meaningful scale.

Aquatic Invasive Species - KS Distributions, Impacts, and KDWP AIS Management Projects – Chris Steffen (KDWP)

An increasingly large threat to Kansas’ aquatic resources is the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). AIS are non-native species that threaten the diversity or abundance of native species, the ecological stability of infested waters, and/or any commercial, agricultural, aquacultural, or recreational activities dependent on such waters. AIS such as zebra mussels, invasive carp, white perch, and rusty crayfish are already present in Kansas, while others such as quagga mussels, snakehead, and hydrilla have infested waterbodies in nearby states and threaten to spread to Kansas.

AIS impact habitats they invade by altering ecosystem processes and reducing the abundance of native species through predation, competition for food and space, hybridization, as well as the introduction of pathogens and parasites. Additionally, AIS adversely impact society by hindering economic development, preventing recreational activities, decreasing the aesthetic value of nature, and potentially serving as vectors of human disease. In the United States, approximately 49% of the species on the threatened or endangered species lists are at risk primarily because of predation or competition with AIS.

To combat AIS, the Kansas Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan was signed by Governor Sebelius and approved by the Federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force in May 2005. The plan established the Kansas AIS Program within the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks with the goals to: prevent new introductions of AIS to Kansas; prevent dispersal of established populations of AIS; eradicate or control to minimize the adverse ecological, economic, social, and public health effects of AIS; educate all aquatic users of AIS risks; and to support research of AIS in Kansas.

Recently, invasive species issues have locally, regionally, and nationally received increased attention and funding, providing KDWP the opportunity to increase the capacity and productivity of the AIS program. New and expanded AIS projects and activities will be discussed. Updated AIS locations and impacts within and outside of Kansas will be presented as well.

Educational connections and community collaborations at Emporia State University’s Prophet Aquatic Research & Outreach Center – Daphne Mayes (Emporia State), Alexandra Hayes (Emporia State), and Phil Tauton

Emporia State University’s Prophet Aquatic Research & Outreach Center (PAROC) is a space that offers hands-on learning opportunities connected to water and the environment for all ages and has been able to expand its reach and capacity through a variety of community partnerships and collaborations. Vamos a Pescar! is an annual event that has taken place in the Emporia area for the past 8 years and has been hosted at the PAROC for the past 3 years. In collaboration with the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, Hispanics of Today & Tomorrow (HOTT), Emporia Migrant Education Program, and What’s in Outdoors with Phil Taunton. This event has grown each year and offers an enriching experience that covers Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks hunting and fishing, rules and regulations and teaches respect of our natural resources. Vamos A Pescar also presents safety in the Outdoors, aquatic ecology and provides basic "Hands On" hunting and aquatic education experiences.

The Kansas Ecological Review Tool: Introducing an online platform for statutorily required ecological reviews in accordance with the Kansas Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act – Diedre Kramer (KDWP)

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ (KDWP) Ecological Services Division is responsible for providing statutorily required ecological reviews of proposed development projects in accordance with the Kansas Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act. Strategies used for ecological reviews are to address ecological concerns during the earliest stages of project planning by using the latest technology and scientific information in developing sound ecological recommendations. Actions that require a review are any that involve public funds, government assistance, require another state or federal permit, or potentially affect a current listed species or its critical habitat. To date, project information has been submitted to KDWP Ecological Services Division and results from the ecological review were provided within 30 days. KDWP Ecological Services Division has collaborated with NatureServe to develop an online Kansas Ecological Review Tool (ERT). The ERT will allow project managers to submit project details electronically and receive their review generally within 15 minutes. Ecological reviews from the ERT will provide clearance and best management practices (BMPs) or inform the project manager the project will require further review by KDWP Ecological Services Division staff. The presentation today will discuss the ERT and ecological review process in more detail.

Potential CyanoHAB initiation and transport in northeast Kansas wetlands and slow-moving streams, 2021–23 – Ariele Kramer (Kansas Water Science Center)

The USGS Kansas Water Science Center, in cooperation with Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Water Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and WaterOne is studying wetlands and slow-moving streams around Milford and Perry Lakes in northeast Kansas to characterize physicochemical conditions during potentially toxic CyanoHAB formation and subsequent transport. Slow-moving streams, wetlands, and oxbows may favor cyanobacterial growth over other algal forms much of the year because of increased water temperatures, less light limitation, and low hydrologic gradients. Phase one of this study collected thirty-eight samples during August 2021 through June 2023 over a range of conditions in various wetlands and slow-moving streams and analyzed for nutrients, chlorophyll a, phytoplankton, and cyanotoxins. Microcystin, a cyanotoxin, was detected in about 60 percent of samples suggesting the potential for widespread cyanoHAB occurrence in these headwater areas. Potentially toxic cyanobacteria blooms in similar Kansas reservoirs that form in contributing waters may subsequently transport to downstream reservoirs throughout the summer months. Phase two of this study (currently ongoing) focuses on temporal and spatial relations between headwater cyanoHAB formation and subsequent bloom development downstream in Milford Lake. This presentation will characterize the occurrence of cyanoHABs in the headwaters of Perry and Milford reservoirs and describe initial research into how transport from these areas could influence downstream blooms. Improved understanding of the role of wetlands and slow-moving streams should help managers better understand and mitigate potential future blooms in large reservoirs.

Peeping Eyes in the Sky: Utilizing Satellite Remote Sensing for Early Detection of Harmful Algal Blooms in Kansas Waters – Jeeban Panthi (K-State)

The frequency and distribution of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are on an upward trajectory globally, thereby escalating risks to aquatic ecosystems, public health, and economic stability. Kansas lakes and reservoirs are grappling with heightened nutrient concentrations and HAB incidents, which disrupt ecological balance and diminish recreational value. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has implemented extensive multi-year monitoring to evaluate the health status of public lakes and reservoirs. Despite significant investments in monitoring cyanobacterial biomass and toxin concentrations, resource limitations persist, leading to insufficient sampling points and frequencies to adequately capture temporal variations. Remote sensing technologies offer a solution by providing high-resolution, freely available datasets to estimate key HAB indicators such as Chlorophyll-a. Although numerous global models estimate Chlorophyll-a using remote sensing, they inadequately capture the dynamics of algal blooms in local water bodies. Algorithms designed for clearer, deeper waters struggle to adapt to the turbid, nutrient-rich conditions typical of Kansas waters. To address this gap, this project seeks to develop an operational model for estimating near-real-time chlorophyll concentrations—a proxy for HABs—in Kansas water bodies using freely accessible satellite remote sensing data (Sentinel-2) and machine learning techniques. This model aims to enable early detection of harmful algal blooms, thus providing critical data to enhance understanding of HAB triggers in Kansas and to improve HAB monitoring and response efforts by state agencies and water managers.

Blue-green algae in the Kansas River Basin: Is the future tinted blue-green?  - Ted Harris (KBS)

Blue-green algae blooms or CyanoHABs (Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms) are detrimental to ecosystem functioning, drinking water treatment, and human health. Since 2010, CyanoHABs have been reported in over 100 waterbodies in Kansas. Understanding long-term patterns of algal blooms and water quality in Kansas River Basin reservoirs is needed to better understand, predict, and ultimately control CyanoHABs. Sediment cores from reservoirs contain pigments and DNA produced from past algal blooms, which, when combined with aggregated water quality data, can help reconstruct the history of CyanoHABs within a reservoir. We present long-term patterns of algal blooms and water quality from the 12 federal reservoirs within the Kansas River Basin (Milford, Sebelius, Webster, Kanopolis, Perry, Lovewell, Tuttle Creek, Glen Elder, Kirwin, Wilson, Cedar Bluff, and Clinton). Temporal patterns vary among reservoirs. In some, CyanoHABs have been steadily increasing for more than 20 years, whereas others lack long-term patterns. We will discuss how these long-term patterns can be used to create future projections for water quality in individual waterbodies, or in entire river basins. We will also discuss how future projections from past water quality data can be used to guide current and future CyanoHABs monitoring and management efforts.

Evaluating Direct Potable Reuse for Small Communities: Learning from the Village of Cloudcroft, NM – Greta Zornes (CDM Smith)

To secure access to reliable, sustainable water supplies, particularly in water-scarce areas, the implementation and practice of advanced water reuse will continue to grow. Although the technology exists to safely implement advanced reuse and potable reuse systems, there are still many challenges. As Kansas begins to consider planned, potable reuse projects, understanding the steps and complexities of implementing these projects is key. These challenges are amplified in small, remote communities. In this presentation, the case study of The Village of Cloudcroft, New Mexico will be shared.  Cloudcroft identified potable reuse as a solution due to stressed water resources in the early 2000's. The PURe Water direct potable reuse (DPR) project was conceptualized, designed shortly thereafter, and partially constructed. Membrane bioreactor (MBR) construction resumed in 2015 and was completed in 2018. The MBR is currently online and operational. The DPR project has never operated, and Reverse Osmosis (RO) brine management remains a significant challenge. This case study illustrates some of the potential difficulties for communities looking to implement potable reuse while also sharing the key steps to implementing these complex projects.       

Synthesizing drinking water distribution networks based on readily available data – Emma Russin (KU)

Delivering clean and safe drinking water is crucial to maintaining the health of communities. Many utilities use open-source software like EPANET to create models of their systems that can be used to effectively evaluate their system conditions. However, EPANET requires highresolution data that may not be readily available to all communities. To address this lack of information, we have developed a method that creates a synthesized drinking water infrastructure system using readily available data. This data includes the location and elevation of roadways,
census population data, commercial data, and initial assumptions for the pipe diameter and material.

Water distribution pipes were assumed to run parallel with road networks, and this information was collected from OpenStreetMaps and converted to a series of links and nodes that represented the water distribution system. Elevation data was obtained from a 5m LiDAR map of Kansas. Population and commercial data were obtained and aggregated from census data, and the housing and business demands were assigned to nodes based on proximity. Residential demand was
based upon a fixed daily rate. Commercial demand was determined based on business type using NAICS code and square footage. The initial model assumes a pipe diameter of eight inches, which is then iterated to simulate a final pipe diameter based on pressure, velocity, and flow rate. The overall model combines Python and EPANET into a single workflow. The initial methodology was developed using data from a synthetic community (Customizable Artificial Community (CLARC)) and used to evaluate three systems in western Kansas (Garden City,
Dodge City, and Liberal). The final model can simulate the system's demands, water age, pressure, velocity, and flow rate. Water quality parameters such as residual disinfection concentration can be simulated with the use of the Multi-Species eXtension (MSX).

We provide the specific parameters used to design and evaluate a drinking water system in Garden City, Kansas. In our current iteration, the model predicts an estimated base water demand of 4.45 MGD. This system consists of 1,058 nodes, 1,642 links, two treatment facilities, seven tanks, and 1,642 links. In this case, a node is a connection between pipes, a link represents a pipe. The pressure within the system ranges from 47.53 to 94.54 psi and the velocity varies from 0.01 to 8.19 fps. Over a month-long simulation, the water age in the system varies from 0 to 730
hours, with an average of 243 hours. Pipe diameters in the system range from 46 inches at the drinking water treatment plant output to 1 inch near residential connections. Efforts to validate our approach to generate synthetic drinking water distribution systems are ongoing. This work is part of a larger effort National Science Foundation funded effort called Adaptive and Resilient Infrastructure driven by Social Equity (ARISE). The ARISE project seeks to understand interrelated power, water, wastewater, and transportation systems in terms of resilience and
equity. The goals of this project include creating tools that communities can use to categorize and assess the resilience and equity of their infrastructure systems.

South Well Field Project Delivers Sustainable Supply to McPherson and the Small Systems it Serves –Christopher Unruh (McPherson BPU), and Jeff Heidrick (Burns and McDonnell)

McPherson, Kansas currently utilizes the Equus Bed region of the High Plains Aquifer as its primary source of drinking water. McPherson’s 12 groundwater wells supply the City of McPherson as well as three rural water districts in McPherson County and the City of Windom. These water wells are located within the McPherson Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area (IGUCA), which is an area of over appropriation leading to unsustainable aquifer levels. The IGUCA experiences an average water level decline at a rate of 3 inches per year. Since 1972, the aquifer within McPherson’s IGUCA has experienced an average total decline of 12 feet, with certain areas exceeding 20 feet of decline. The Kansas Geological Survey completed a study that calculated a safe yield of 10,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) from current resources; however, McPherson is utilizing approximately 12,000 AFY according to a survey completed by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). This deficit will accelerate depletion of the aquifer as droughts become more intense and longer lasting.

Due to its industrial growth over the years, McPherson continues to be a driver of employment in the region, but with this comes an imminent demand for more critical resources. To address this, McPherson’s Board of Public Utilities (BPU) took a proactive approach to ensure water access by promoting conservation and proper management of regional resources to its residents and industrial customers. BPU secured water rights, approximately 2,900 AFY, 18 miles south of the City to access groundwater from a more sustainable location of the Equus Beds.

The South Well Field Project (SWF) provides this sustainable, long-term solution to McPherson for additional population growth, economic expansion, resiliency to drought, and conservation of essential regional resources. The project consisted of three new wells and well houses located in the South Well Field, a 20 mile raw water main through two counties, and a new 4 million gallon per day (MGD) water treatment plant utilizing greensand filtration technology. BPU self-performed much of the work within the new well houses and water treatment plant, sustaining local, quality craftsmanship within their community. The design and construction of this new, resilient water infrastructure required extensive coordination from residents, businesses, and both local and national agencies to provide an essential source of water to McPherson’s community while addressing longstanding water usage concerns.

Setting the Stage for the Future of Flood Mapping in Kansas – David Weiss (KBS)

With support from the Kansas Water Office, researchers at the Kansas Biological Survey have developed an expanding suite of operational flood mapping tools covering greater eastern Kansas. Maps can serve as powerful tools to visualize and communicate information concisely and quickly about hazards and risk. Accurate and up-to-date inundation maps as flooding occurs provide a valuable resource for improving situational awareness and help establish a common operating picture for emergency management personnel and other decision makers during these often-devastating events. This year, the KBS dashboard’s inundation libraries have been updated with the latest statewide LiDAR elevation data, and research for tool development now includes an investigation into the use of flow information derived from the National Water Model, which has the potential to improve and expand our capabilities. We conducted a comparison with the mapping methods behind the NOAA Office of Water Prediction’s experimental real-time flood inundation mapping service, which was rolled out for parts of the Northeastern US and eastern Texas in fall of 2023. This presentation will provide a look at how these approaches perform in Kansas through modeling of past floods, including those of May 2019 on the Verdigris River.

We Know the Problems, But Not the Solutions!: Using FEMA Scoping Programs to Identify and Screen Alternatives – Dan Fricke and Chris Shultz (JEO Consulting)

It’s a frustrating problem: we know where there are problems but many communities throughout the country have purposely avoided dealing with longstanding flood issues, as these problems are often complex and expensive to address.  Even understanding the potential benefits and costs to support grant funding applications can be a tremendous lift.  Ever increasing and accumulating damages from recent disasters have instigate grant program changes, allowing for more ability to tackle these problems.

Recent events throughout the Midwest have identified the catastrophic impacts that flooding can have on communities, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, creating political and social turmoil, and having long lasting community-wide negative impacts.  New developments in the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) including the Building Resilient Infrastructure in Communities (BRIC) both encourage and fund detailed evaluation and development of comprehensive and multi-faceted improvements specifically tailored to situations where the “problem is known, but the solution is not”.  Often a specific barrier to even begin this process is the availability of funding for an evaluation to support a project with a likely even larger implementation cost. 

This presentation will provide details and successes of several case studies in which communities are utilizing FEMA funds to complete a detailed scoping phase including: detailed Flooding Assessment, Alternative Development, Conceptual Design, Right-of-Way Needs Identification, Regulatory Compliance Review, Alternative Screening, Benefit-Cost Analysis, Stakeholder and Public Engagement, and FEMA Grant Applications for Preferred Alternatives.  This process is being successfully implemented in the Midwest to develop practical flood mitigation projects that will strengthen communities and provide real world flood risk reduction.  As these projects are utilizing a FEMA program, alignment with the ultimate implementation funding source is strengthened, increasing the likelihood of future funding availability.

Water-Smart Sorghum Forage Systems for Beef and Dairy – Sarah Sexton-Bowser (K-State)

Cattle production (beef and dairy) is a vital contributor to economic prosperity in the High Plains region, specifically western Kansas. Beef is the leading economic sector for Kansas agriculture with a total economic impact of $10B (KDA, 2023). In Kansas, dairy cow inventories and milk production have more than doubled in the most recent two decades to roughly 175,000 (KDA, 2023). This growth is projected to continue with the expansion of new milk processing facilities, which by some estimates may increase the dairy herd by an additional 100,000. Climatic conditions of the region including cool nights, air movement, and semi-arid temperate support positive animal performance. Though the region is conducive for cattle production, seasonal water scarcity and decline of water resources threaten production of forages, especially in dryland regions and in limited irrigation systems. Overlaying this region is a high concentration of sorghum production, catalyzed by the crop’s suitability for cultivation under the semi-arid conditions of the High Plains. Farmers grow sorghum for its adaptation to heat and drought, which allows sorghum to grow with reliability. Historically, the predominance of sorghum production has been grain, but forage sorghum types offer an untapped opportunity to support water-smart forage systems. Hence, there is a need to both characterize the demand for forages, including emerging new forage demand and develop a suite of water-smart forage technologies including new forage seed technologies, agronomy practices, and decision tools to support sustainable forage production. This talk will describe the landscape and intersection of forage and cattle production and present recent investments in new forage seed technologies and development of decision tools to design water-smart forage systems based on local long-term weather and water conservation targets.

Resilience planning to sustain irrigated cattle and dairy feed and forage systems – Susan Metzger (K-State)

The Ogallala-High Plains Aquifer, especially in the Southern Great Plains, is rapidly depleting, with Kansas experiencing groundwater declines of 25 to 103 feet since predevelopment. This has led to significant losses in irrigated cropland and substantial economic impacts. From 1989 to 2017, over 11% of western Kansas's irrigated land was converted to dryland, and by 2100, 24% of currently irrigated lands may lack adequate water. This trend threatens the sustainability of profitable agriculture in the region. Agricultural water management in Kansas has mainly focused on crop production, which accounts for over 85% of water use. However, livestock production, particularly the beef and dairy sectors, generates significantly more economic value per acre-foot of water used. Engaging the entire supply chain, including lenders and policymakers, is essential for future water management. With this in mind, the Kansas Water Institute at Kansas State University and the Kansas Livestock Association partnered with Aimpoint Research, a global strategic intelligence firm specializing in food and agriculture, to facilitate a stakeholder engagement process to understand Ogallala Aquifer water conservation from the perspective of farmers, producers, and others linked in the value chain.  A growing community in Kansas is committed to developing a workable framework for executing conservation practices that ensure the aquifer’s viability while maintaining producer profitability. During this presentation, Dr. Metzger will share an overview of the facilitated process, describe the role of data and technology in addressing the aquifer declines, and present the findings and resulting Ogallala Action Framework developed in partnership with the region’s livestock producers.

Economic Analysis of Sediment Management Alternatives – Rollin Hotchkiss (USACE)

Work is underway with the Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Water Office to develop a methodology for performing economic analyses of sediment management alternatives for existing water storage reservoirs.  These analyses, unlike those traditionally developed for new projects, consider (1)  upstream and downstream impacts of sediment processes, (2)  the loss of benefits as storage is depleted due to sedimentation, and (3)  the cost to replace water should it become unavailable due to sediment deposition.  The methodology also examines a host of discounting alternatives to the mandated exponential discount rate.  The exponential discounting rate is not conducive to sustainable operation of water storage projects.  The purpose of the presentation is to share progress made to date on work involving the Tuttle, Kanopolis, and Perry Lake projects in Kansas. Unique to this study is an attempt to quantify the potential volume of sediment that may enter these three reservoirs as a result of the failure of upstream low-head dams and the subsequent headcutting processes that would be instigated as a result of the sudden and permanent water level drop at the failed structure. 

Update on Reservoir Sustainability Work in Kansas – John Shelley (USACE)

Reservoir sedimentation is a continuing, serious problem in the State of Kansas and much of the United States.  In recent years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Kansas Water Office, and a host of other researchers and agency partners have focused planning, engineering, and research efforts for solving this problem.  In this presentation, Dr. John Shelley of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will summarize what we’ve learned and the progress we’ve made in the last few years.  Specifically, he will address the following questions:  First, how bad is the sedimentation problem at USACE lakes in Kansas, and how do Kansas lakes compare to lakes in other states? Second, what have we learned and are currently learning about costs and effectiveness of various ways to reduce sediment outputs from the watershed?  Third, what is the status of the water injection dredging demonstration at Tuttle Creek Lake?  Fourth, what analyzes are underway for sediment removal at John Redmond? And Fifth, where do we go from here?

Grand Diversions: Dreams of Big Water for the High Plains – Mark Jakubausas (KU)

The challenges of providing and maintain an abundant and reliable water supply source for the High Plains have ---captured the attention--- of boosters, farmers, developers, and others since European settlement began in the region. Over the past 100 years, many have cast covetous eyes upon the seemingly inexhaustible hydrologic riches of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. From the Grand Interstate Canal of JC Hopper of Ness City, to the massive canal of HC Bartow that would run from North Dakota to Oklahoma, to the Beck & Associates proposal to reverse the Niobrara River in Nebraska and use it as a means to divert Missouri River water 200 miles west to a massive canal and the ambitious plans of the Six State study and the North American Water and Power Alliance, big dreamers and schemers have sought the means and routes by which they might divert “excess” water to the western plains, or even as far west as the Colorado River. Every one of these grand dreams foundered on the rocks of the engineering, economic, and environmental realities of moving water uphill over long distances.

Growing the Garden City: Early History of Irrigation and Specialty Crop Production in Southwest Kansas – Jeremy Gill (Hays Public Library)

The opening of Kansas land to new settlements through the Homestead and Timber Culture Acts attracted people from across the country and around the world, transforming both the environment and the state’s economy. To entice settlers into relocating to the semiarid regions of western Kansas, land speculators and railroads engaged in boosterism, often exaggerating the area’s current condition and potential. Settlers fell for the illusion of a heavenly place, only to confront a brutal reality of an undeveloped region and unforgiving vastness.

Fluctuating periods of wet and dry years also misled many settlers, depending on the year they claimed their land. In the southwest part of the state, prolonged drought caused many communities to fail. However, the problem solving and determination of a few pioneers in what is currently Garden City applied irrigation technology they learned about from farmers in California and Colorado, using surface water from the Arkansas River to supplement crops during dry years. This innovative system transformed the region’s natural ecosystem, with landowners and companies constructing extensive ditch systems for irrigation and water supply.

This new technology spurred an agricultural boom, with farmers experimenting with a variety of fruits and vegetables that are not typically associated with Kansas today. The early adoption of irrigation created communities in southwest Kansas dependent on this technology for its survival, which has only grown and advanced to the present day.

This presentation will briefly cover the history of the Homestead and Timber Culture Acts, boosterism, the development of irrigation technology in southwest Kansas, early examples of the region’s agricultural diversity, and the interdependence of irrigation and Garden City.

Adopting a Soil Health Mindset to Save the Ogallala Aquifer – Brice Custer (Kansas Soil Health Alliance) and Nick Vos (Stevens County farmer)

Soil health plays a crucial role in the conservation and sustainable management of water quality and quantity in Kansas. In western Kansas, the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer, a vital water resource, is happening at an alarming rate. Widespread adoption of soil health practices can help slow down the depletion.

Healthy soil has a higher capacity to infiltrate and store more water. More infiltration and water retention reduces the demand for water, reducing the need for irrigation. Following the soil health principle of maintaining good ground cover also lessens surface evaporation, further reducing irrigation demand.

Trego County farmer, Brice Custer, and Stevens County farmer, Nick Vos, both take a systems approach to soil health on their farms. Through years of committing to improving soil health in an ecologically and economically sound manner, they have both decreased their reliance on irrigation while maintaining profitability. In this session, they will present the paths they have taken, sharing economic data, failures, and the innovative crops and cropping techniques they are using to help reduce the strain on the Ogalla Aquifer and help ensure a stable water supply for future generations.

On-farm solar arrays to enhance recharge, produce energy, and diversify farm income – Sam Zipper (KU) and Hanna Szydlowski (KGS)

Agriculture in Kansas faces interlinked water, climate, and economic challenges. Groundwater levels have fallen throughout much of the High Plains aquifer, with some areas depleted to the point that they have estimated remaining lifespans of years to a few decades. Climate change can exacerbate agricultural water stress through more frequent and severe drought, which would require increased irrigation or other management actions to sustain crop production. Simultaneously, agriculture contributes to ongoing climate change as a net greenhouse gas emitter due to carbon-intensive energy use, among other factors. These interlinked challenges have substantial socioeconomic impacts for both farmers and communities in agriculture-dependent regions and future groundwater depletion threatens the $3.5 billion in agricultural production supported by irrigation from the HPA.

This presentation will provide an overview of a novel pilot project intended to address these interlinked challenges using on-farm solar arrays situated in low-productivity non-irrigated corners of center pivot fields and instrumented with rain collection gutters that drain into infiltration basins. We hypothesize these pivot-corner solar recharge systems can (i) enhance water sustainability by collecting water and concentrating groundwater recharge; (ii) increase energy system resiliency through distributed generation; (iii) reduce agriculture’s climate footprint by expanding renewable energy production; and (iv) provide economic benefits to farmers through reduced energy costs and sales of produced electricity, as well as increased long-term water supply.

To test these hypotheses, we are developing a pilot-scale pivot-corner solar recharge system in a heavily-depleted portion of the HPA in southwestern Kansas through cooperation with farm, energy industry, municipal, and groundwater management partners. Once installed, we will conduct detailed energy and hydrological monitoring and modeling to evaluate potential hydrologic, climate, energy, and economic benefits at the farm and regional scale. This presentation will highlight early-stage progress on this pilot project with a focus on potential collaborative opportunities as we work to build a coalition of interested partners in this work.