Geology topics

Research about Blue River basin

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Blue River basin.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2021

Flood-inundation maps for the Blue River near Red Bridge Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 2019

Digital flood-inundation maps for a 4.6-mile reach of the Blue River near Red Bridge Road in Kansas City, Missouri, were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the City of Kansas City, Missouri. The flood-inundation maps, which can be accessed through the USGS Flood Inundation Mapping Program website at https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/flood-inundation-mapping-fim-program , depict estimates of the areal extent and depth of flooding corresponding to selected water levels (stages) at the USGS streamgage 06893195, Blue River at Red Bridge Road, Kansas City, Mo. Near-real-time stages at this streamgage may be obtained from the USGS National Water Information System at https://doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN or the Johnson County, Kansas, StormWatch Automated Local Elevation in Real Time Flood Warning System at https://www.stormwatch.com . Flood profiles were computed for the Blue River reach by means of a one-dimensional model for simulating water-surface profiles with steady-state flow computations. The model was calibrated by using the current stage-streamflow relations at the upstream USGS streamgage 06893150, Blue River at Blue Ridge Boulevard Extension, Kansas City, Mo., and the downstream streamgage 06893500, Blue River at Kansas City, Mo. The hydraulic model was then used to compute 37 water-surface profiles for flood stages at 1-foot (ft) intervals referenced to the streamgage datum and ranging from 11 ft, or near bankfull, to 47 ft at the reference streamgage 06893195. The upper stage for the map library exceeds the stage corresponding to the estimated 0.2-percent annual exceedance probability flood (500-year recurrence interval flood) in the model reach. The simulated water-surface profiles were then combined with a geographic information system digital elevation model with a maximum 10-centimeter vertical root mean square error and 4.0-ft horizontal resolution to delineate the area flooded at each water level. The availability of these maps, along with real-time internet information regarding current stage from the USGS streamgage, will help guide emergency management personnel and residents in flood mitigation, preparedness and planning, flood-response activities such as evacuations and road closures, and any postflood recovery efforts.

Kansas, Missouri↗

USGS2002

Effects of wastewater and combined sewer overflows on water quality in the Blue River basin, Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas, July 1998-October 2000

Samples were collected from 16 base-flow events and a minimum of 10 stormflow events between July 1998 and October 2000 to characterize the effects of wastewater and combined sewer overflows on water quality in the Blue River Basin, Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas. Waterquality effects were determined by analysis of nutrients, chloride, chemical and biochemical oxygen demand, and suspended sediment samples from three streams (Blue River, Brush Creek, and Indian Creek) in the basin as well as the determination of a suite of compounds known to be indicative of wastewater including antioxidants, caffeine, detergent metabolites, antimicrobials, and selected over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals. Constituent loads were determined for both hydrologic regimes and a measure of the relative water-quality impact of selected stream reaches on the Blue River and Brush Creek was developed. Genetic fingerprint patterns of Escherichia coli bacteria from selected stream samples were compared to a data base of knownsource patterns to determine possible sources of bacteria. Water quality in the basin was affected by wastewater during both base flows and stormflows; however, there were two distinct sources that contributed to these effects. In the Blue River and Indian Creek, the nearly continuous discharge of treated wastewater effluent was the primary source of nutrients, wastewater indicator compounds, and pharmaceutical compounds detected in stream samples. Wastewater inputs into Brush Creek were largely the result of intermittent stormflow events that triggered the overflow of combined storm and sanitary sewers, and the subsequent discharge of untreated wastewater into the creek. A portion of the sediment, organic matter, and associated constituents from these events were trapped by a series of impoundments constructed along Brush Creek where they likely continued to affect water quality during base flow. Concentrations and loads of most wastewater constituents in the Blue River and Indian Creek were significantly greater than in Brush Creek, especially during base flow. However, wastewater indicator compound concentrations were sometimes greater in some Brush Creek stormflow samples. Selected stream reaches along the mid-portion of Brush Creek showed higher effects relative to other sites, primarily because these sites were in impounded reaches with the greatest density of wastewater inputs, or had relatively small drainage areas.

Kansas, Missouri↗

USGS1986

Groundwater model of the Blue River basin, Nebraska-Twenty years later

Groundwater flow models have become almost a routine tool of the practicing hydrologist. Yet, surprisingly little attention has been given to true verification analysis of studies using these models. This paper examines predictions for 1982 of water-level declines and streamflow depletions that were made in 1965 using an electric analog groundwater model of the Blue River basin in southeastern Nebraska. Analysis of the model's predictions suggests that the analog model used too low an estimate of net groundwater withdrawals, yet overestimated water-level declines. The model predicted that almost all of the net groundwater pumpage would come from storage in the Pleistocene aquifer within the Blue River basin. It appears likely that the model underestimated the contributions of other sources of water to the pumpage, and that the aquifer storage coefficients used in the model were too low. There is some evidence that groundwater pumpage has had a greater than predicted effect on streamflow. Considerable uncertainty about the basic conceptualization of the hydrology of the Blue River basin greatly limits the reliability of groundwater models developed for the basin. The paper concludes with general perspectives on groundwater modeling gained from this post-audit analysis.

Nebraska↗