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Lloyd E. Stullken

Publications and source records attributed to Lloyd E. Stullken.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1994

Assessment of nonpoint-source contamination of the High Plains Aquifer in south-central Kansas, 1987

Ground-water quality was assessed in a 5,000-square-mile area of the High Plains aquifer in south-central Kansas that is susceptible to nonpoint-source contamination from agricultural and petroleum-production activities. Of particular interest was the presence of agricultural chemicals and petroleum-derived hydrocarbons that might have been associated with brines that formerly were disposed into unlined ponds. Random sampling of ground water was done within a framework of discrete land-use areas (irrigated cropland, petroleum-production land containing former brine-disposal ponds, and undeveloped rangeland) of 3-10 square miles. Although true baseline water-quality conditions probably are rare, in this region they are represented most closely by ground water in areas of undeveloped rangeland. The sampling design enabled statistical hypothesis testing, using nonparametric procedures, of the effects of land use, unsaturated-zone lithology, and type of well sampled. Results indicate that regional ground-water quality has been affected by prevailing land-use activities, as shown by increased concentrations of several inorganic constituents. Ground water beneath irrigated cropland was characterized by significantly larger concentrations of hardness, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, potassium, fluofide, and nitrite plus nitrate than was water beneath undeveloped rangeland. Few nondegraded pesticides were detected in the aquifer, probably because of degradation and sorption. Atrazine was the most common, but only in small concentrations. round water beneath petroleum-production land was characterized by significantly larger concentrations of hardness, alkalinity, dissolved solids, sodium, and chloride than was water beneath undeveloped rangeland. Nonpoint-source contamination by oil-derived hydrocarbons was not discernible. The occurrences of trace organic compounds were similar between petroleum-production land and undeveloped rangeland, which indicates a natural origin for these compounds. The unsaturated zone in the study area is lithologically heterogeneous and contains substantial amounts of clay that inhibit the downward movement of water and solutes. Within the aquifer, the rate of lateral regional flow and solute transport is slow enough so that the ground-water quality reflects overlying land use in discrete areas of several square miles, but it is still sufficiently rapid so that the type of well sampled is not important in regional characterizations of water quality beneath irrigated cropland; the seasonal pumping of irrigation wells does not appear to divert regional flow enough to cause substantial local anomalies of more mineralized ground water.

South-central Kansas↗
USGS1986

Altitude and configuration of the water table in the High Plains Aquifer in Kansas, 1960

The High Plains aquifer in Kansas is part of a regional aquifer system that extends into Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. The aquifer in Kansas underlies an area of 31,000 square miles in the western and south-central part of the State. The aquifer is a hydraulically connected assemblage of unconsolidated water-bearing deposits. In western Kansas, the High Plains aquifer consists principally of the Ogallala Formation of the late Tertiary age and the overlying deposits of Quaternary age. In south-central Kansas, the aquifer consists of unconsolidated deposits principally of Quaternary age. Valley alluvium of Quaternary age also is included in the deposits in both areas. The High Plains aquifer is delimited on the east by outcrops of Permian or Cretaceous rocks and by unsaturated deposits of Quaternary age. The altitude and configuration of the water table during 1960 are shown for the High Plains aquifer in Kansas. The water table sloped generally from west to east at an average rate of 10 feet per mile. The altitude of the water table ranged from about 3,900 feet in the southwest corner of Sherman County, northwestern Kansas, to about 1,350 feet in northern Sedgwick County, southcentral Kansas. Groundwater moves perpendicular to the water table contours from higher altitudes in the western part of the High Plains to lower altitudes in the east. Contours that cross stream valleys without flexure may indicate that the water table was below the streambed. Upstream flexure of water table contours along streams indicates that groundwater flowed toward, and discharged into, streams. This is most evident along the South Fork Republican River in Cheyenne County, Northwestern Kansas, and the South Fork Ninnescah River in Pratt and Kingman Counties, south-central Kansas. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1985

Generalized configuration of the base of the High Plains Aquifer in Kansas

The High Plains aquifer in Kansas is part of a regional system that extends from South Dakota to Texas. In Kansas, the aquifer underlies an area of 30,900 square miles in the western and south-central part. The aquifer is a hydraulically connected aggregation of unconsolidated water-bearing deposits. The High Plains aquifer is composed principally of unconsolidated alluvial deposits of Tertiary and Quaternary age. These materials were deposited on an erosion surface that had been cut into consolidated rocks of Permian, Cretaceous and Jurassic age. Dissolution of underlying Permian evaporites by ground water has been a significant factor in the faulting and subsidence of the bedrock surface in southwestern and south-central Kansas. Maps published at a scale of 1:500,000 show the altitude and configuration of the base of the aquifer. The regional gradient of the base is from west to east at about 10 feet per mile, but the gradient of the base is from west to east at about 10 feet per mile, but the local gradient may exceed 100 feet per mile in the vicinity of faults, collapsed areas, and erosional features. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1985

Altitude and configuration of the water table in the High Plains aquifer of Kansas, pre-1950

The High Plains aquifer in Kansas is a part of a regional system that extends from South Dakota to Texas. The aquifer in Kansas underlies an area of 31,000 square miles in the western and south-central part. The aquifer is a hydraulically connected assemblage of unconsolidated water-bearing deposits of Tertiary and Quaternary age. Maps at a scale of 1:500,000 show the altitude and configuration of the water table in Kansas prior to 1950. The water-table maps depict the water-level surface that was present prior to major development of the High Plains aquifer. Ground water moves from higher altitudes in the western part of the High Plains to lower altitudes in the eastern part at an average slope of 10 feet per mile. The upgradient flexure of water-table contours along some of the valleys indicates that ground water is discharged to the streams in those areas.

Kansas↗
USGS1985

Altitude and configuration of the water table in the High Plains Aquifer in Kansas, 1970

The High Plains aquifer in Kansas is a part of a regional system that extends from South Dakota to Texas. The aquifer in Kansas underlies an area of 31,000 square miles in the western and south-central part. This aquifer is a hydraulically connected assemblage of unconsolidated water-bearing deposits of Tertiary and Quaternary age. Maps published at a scale of 1:500,000 show the altitude and configuration of the water table in Kansas during 1970. Ground water moved from higher altitudes in the western part of the High Plains to lower altitudes in the eastern part under an average gradient of 10 feet per mile. The upgradient flexure of water-table contours along some of the valleys indicates that ground water was discharged to the streams in those areas. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1985

Altitude and configuration of the water table in the High Plains aquifer in Kansas, 1980

The High Plains aquifer in Kansas is a part of a regional system that extends from South Dakota to Texas. The aquifer in Kansas underlies an area of 31,000 square miles in the western and south-central part of the State. This aquifer is a hydraulically connected assemblage of unconsolidated water-bearing deposits of Tertiary and Quaternary age. Maps published at a scale of 1:500 ,000 show the altitude and configuration of the water table in Kansas during 1980. Ground water moves from higher altitudes in the western part of the high Plains to lower altitudes in the eastern part at an average rate of 10 feet per mile. The up-gradient flexure of water-table contours along some of the valleys indicates that ground water discharges to the streams in those areas. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1981

Altitude and configuration of the water table in the High Plains aquifer in Kansas, 1980

The High Plains aquifer in Kansas is part of a regional system that extends into Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. The aquifer in Kansas underlies an area of 31,000 square miles in the western and south-central part of the State. This aquifer is a hydraulically connected assemblage of unconsolidated water-bearing deposits. In western Kansas, the High Plains aquifer consists principally of the Ogallala Formation of late Tertiary age and the overlying deposits of Quaternary age. In south-central Kansas, the aquifer consists of unconsolidated deposits principally of the Quaternary age. Valley alluvium of Quaternary age also is included in the deposits in both areas. The High Plains aquifer is delimited on the east by outcrops of Permian or Cretaceous rocks and by unsaturated deposits of Quaternary age.

Kansas↗
USGS1981

Hydrology and model of North Fork Solomon River Valley, Kirwin Dam to Waconda Lake, north-central Kansas

The alluvial valley of the North Fork Solomon River is an important agricultural area. Reservoir releases diverted below Kirwin Dam are the principal source of irrigation water. During the 1970'S, severe water shortages occurred in Kirwin Reservoir and other nearby reservoirs as a result of an extended drought. Some evidence indicates that surface-water shortages may have been the result of a change in the rainfall-runoff relationship. Examination of the rainfall-runoff relationship shows no apparent trend from 1951 to 1968, but annual records from 1969 to 1976 indicate that deficient rainfall occurred during 6 of the 8 years. Ground water from the alluvial aquifer underlying the river valley also is used extensively for irrigation. Utilization of ground water for irrigation greatly increased from about 200 acre-feet in 1955 to about 12,300 acre-feet in 1976. Part of the surface water diverted for irrigation has percolated downward into the aquifer raising the ground-water level. Ground-water storage in the aquifer increased from 230,000 acre-feet in 1946 to 275,000 acre-feet in 1976-77. A digital model was used to simulate the steady-state conditions in the aquifer prior to closure of Kirwin Dam. Model results indicated that precipitation was the major source of recharge to the aquifer. The effective recharge, or gain from precipitation minus evapotranspiration, was about 11,700 acre-feet per year. The major element of discharge from the aquifer was leakage to the river. The simulated net leakage (leakage to the river minus leakage from the river) was about 11,500 acre-feet per year. The simulated value is consistent with the estimated gain in base flow of the river within the area modeled. Measurements of seepage used to determine gain and loss to the stream were made twice during 1976. Based on these measurements and on base-flow periods identified from hydrographs, it was estimated that the ground-water discharge to the stream has increased about 4,000 acre-feet per year from 1946 to 1976. During the same period, ground water withdrawn from the aquifer increased 12,100 acre-feet per year. Hydrographs of water levels in wells indicate some withdrawal from aquifer storage during 1976, possibly as a combined result of below-normal rainfall and greatly increased pumpage. The analysis of data is inconclusive as to whether the aquifer can sustain increased groundwater development. However, the analysis does indicate that the aquifer could sustain withdrawals at the 1976 rate for several consecutive years of drought similar to the 1976 conditions.

Kansas↗
USGS1977

Geohydrology of the Great Bend Prairie, south-central Kansas

Unconsolidated deposits of Pliocene and Pleistocene age comprise the principal aquifer in the Great Bend Prairie. Forty-five million acre-feet of ground water are estimated to be in storage in these deposits. Only about 60 percent of this amount may be usable owing to an insufficient saturated thickness and to high mineralization of water locally. Yields to irrigation wells are commonly between 500 and 1,000 gal/min, and yields of as much as 2,000 gal/min may be available in localities where the saturated thickness is greater than 100 feet. In 1940, there were about 30 municipal and industrial wells and 50 irrigation wells in the area. In 1973, there were about 200 municipal and industrial wells and 950 irrigation wells; and in 1974, about 1,160 irrigation wells. Annual withdrawals of ground water by wells increased from about 5,000 acre-feet in 1940 to about 140,000 acre-feet in 1974. The steadily increasing withdrawal rate has not produced long-term declines of water levels that may be distinguished from the effects of climatic changes. Significant additional development for irrigation that could cause ground-water withdrawal to exceed long-term recharge and result in water-level declines is anticipated in some areas. The average annual recharge rate to ground water from precipitation is estimated to be about 2 inches. The chemical quality of ground water from unconsolidated deposits in the western half of the area is generally suitable for most uses. The chemical quality of water in the eastern half may be unsuitable locally for most purposes as a result of upward leakage of highly mineral-ized water from underlying Permian rocks. Locally, wells in rocks of Early Permian or Early Cretaceous age may yield from about 10 to 100 gal/min. However, the water from these wells generally contains more than 1,000 mg/L (milligrams per liter) of dissolved solids and more than 500 mg/L of chloride and sulfate.

Kansas↗