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science for a changing world
-
Continuous Real-Time Water Information—
A Vital Kansas Asset _
–Lanna J. Combs, James E. Putnam, and Andrew C. Ziegler
Continuous real-time information water information gathered by the
on streams, lakes, and ground water is USGS and made available on the
a vital Kansas asset that can safeguard World Wide Web at URL:
lives and property and ensures adequate http://ks. waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis
water resources for a healthy State - ----~~ -
economy. The U.S. Geological Survey CONTINU0US REAL-TIME DATA Fishing on the Kansas River below Bowersock Dam in
(USGS) operates more than 190 water- Lawrence, Kansas
monitoring stations that keep watch The USGS has collected hy- CuStomerS.
on Kansas streams, lakes, and ground drologic data in Kansas since 1886. The most profound change in the
water. The majority of these stations are
jointly funded in partnerships with local,
tribal, State, or other Federal agencies.
The first USGS streamflow-monitoring USGS water-monitoring network in
station in Kansas, Cimarron River near Kansas has been the development and
- --- Liberal, began recording data on Octo- widespread use of continuous near real-
The USGS real-time water-monitoring - - - - - -
- ber 1, 1895. Over time, the USGS moni- time data. All continuous monitoring
network provides long-term, accurate, - - - - -
- - - toring network (fig. 1) has changed as stations in Kansas are equipped with
and unbiased information that meets - - -
the needs of many customers. Whether new needs for water information have automated data-collection platforms
the customer is a water-management emerged and new technologies for data (DCPs) that use satellite technology to
or water-quality agency, an emergency collection, analysis, and dissemination transmit data 24 hours a day directly
planner, a power or navigational official, have evolved. In recent years, the USGS to the USGS office in Lawrence and
a farmer, a canoeist, or a fisherman, all has focused on adapting new commu- then onto the World Wide Web. These
can benefit from the continuous real-time nication technologies to better serve its stations, equipped with real-time
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SU DOC S EXPLANATION
º 2a Continuous streamflow or lake-level monitoring station—Number indicates more than one station at that location
CººlECTI Oº Continuous water-quality monitoring station—Number indicates more than one station at that location
• Continuous ground-water monitoring station
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25 50 75 100 KILOMETERS
Figure 1. Location of U.S. Geological Survey continuous near real-time water-monitoring stations in Kansas as of 2003.
U.S. Department of the Interior USGS Fact Sheet 060–03
U.S. Geological Survey July 2003









telemetry, provide critical information
for reservoir operations, river forecast-
ing, and flood warnings and facilitate
water-supply management, environmen-
tal monitoring, and recreational use of
the State’s water.
Continuous real-time streamflow,
lake-level, ground-water, and water-
quality data for Kansas can be accessed
at URL:
http://ks. waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis
USES OF CONTINU0US REAL-TIME
WATER INFORMATION
Continuous real-time water information
from the USGS is used by:
• State and local water-management
and supply agencies—to plan, moni-
tor, and adjust water-withdrawal and
treatment strategies in protecting
public health.
e National Weather Service River
Forecast Centers— to determine
flood stages for various streams and
to help forecast when and where
streams will crest during floods.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers— to
schedule reservoir releases that are
designed to lessen the amount of
potential damage from overflowing
streams and to prevent water from
backing up into smaller tributaries
when the main stem is already bank-
full.
• Kansas Department of
Transportation—to safely and ef-
ficiently design bridges, highways,
and culverts that will convey suf-
ficient streamflow so that roadways
and bridges remain above water
during flooding and escape structural
damage.
• Federal Emergency Management
Agency—to delineate flood-prone
areas, develop flood-insurance rates,
and address emergency-response
needs before, during, and after flood-
Ing.
• Fishermen, Swimmers, and
boaters—to monitor water condi-
tions for safe, optimum recreational
USC.
FROM THE REAL WORLD TO YOUR
COMPUTER SCREEN
The remainder of this fact sheet
provides brief descriptions of the vari-
ous types of USGS water information
for Kansas that are available in near real
time on the World Wide Web. For each
water-monitoring station, the Web infor-
mation includes a site description, a list
of the water characteristics (parameters)
that are measured, and a site location
map.
Real-Time Streamflow and Lake-Level
Information
Continuous, near real-time stream
discharge and water-level informa-
tion is currently available on the World
Wide Web for 171 monitoring stations
on streams and 14 locations on lakes in
Kansas (fig. 1). This real-time informa-
tion can help Web viewers decide when
water levels are too low for specific
activities such as boating or fishing,
when conditions are unsafe such as dur-
ing flooding, when those who withdraw
water for irrigation and drinking-water
Supply may need to use alternative
Sources, when emergency management
officials may need to issue flood warn-
ings or close roads in an area, and when
reservoir operators may need to open or
close outflow gates.
Instantaneous discharge (stream-
flow) and gage-height (water-level or
stage) data recorded at the monitor-
ing stations are relayed via satellite to
USGS computers and processed every
4 hours or more frequently during floods
for distribution on the World Wide Web.
Access real-time streamflow and lake-
level information at URL:
http://ks. waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/sw
Real-Time Ground-Water Information
Currently, continuous real-time
ground-water information from eight
monitoring wells in Kansas (fig. 1) are
available on the World Wide Web at
URL:
http://ks. waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/gw
Available information on ground water
may include ground-water levels, water
temperature, barometric pressure, and
specific conductance recorded at 1-hour
intervals and transmitted via satellite
telemetry to the USGS office in Law-
rence, Kansas.
Real-Time Water-Ouality Information
At selected Streamflow- and
lake-monitoring stations, the USGS
maintains instruments that continu-
ously record physical and chemical
characteristics of the water, including
Specific conductance, pH, temperature,
turbidity, fluorescence (chlorophyll con-
centration), and dissolved oxygen con-
centration. Supporting data such as air
temperature and barometric pressure are
also monitored at Some stations. This
water-quality information is recorded
at 5-minute to 1-hour intervals using
the DCPs and uploaded to the USGS
computer database every 4 hours via
Satellite.
For some monitoring stations (cur-
rently 13, see fig. 1), the continuously
Near Real-Time streamflow and Lake-Level Information
recorded information and data from
periodic collection of water-quality sam-
ples are being used to develop statistical
relations between certain properties of
water that can be measured continually
in real time and chemical constituents of
concern, such as bacteria densities and
atrazine, chloride, total nitrogen, and
total phosphorus concentrations, that
cannot be measured continuously as yet.
The statistical relations used to estimate
the concentrations of constituents of
concern are specific to each monitoring
Station. -
Although there are limitations,
these real-time estimates of water qual-
ity provided by this new application of
regression analysis can have consider-
able utility for protecting human health
and wildlife populations. For example,
real-time water-quality estimates from
the monitoring network eliminate the
waiting time inherent in chemical analy-
ses reported by a laboratory and provide
continuous concentrations and loads for
monitored sites. Local water suppliers
can then alter treatment of the water
Surface-water-monitoring
stations record changes in
streams or lake stage
(gage height), then
transmit that data via
satellite to USGS offices.
| | ||
Mºnitoring
station
F-
Internet other Usos hºiſ.
PAUSGS
USGS 06892350 KANSAS R AT DESOTO, KS
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May 23 May 24 May 25 May 26 May 27 May 28 May 29
DATES: 05/23/2003 to 05/29/03 13:26
Provisional Data Subject to Revision
discharge relation. #7000
e.
For streams, discharge
measurements are
made throughout a
range of streamflows
to develop a stage-
continuouſ
USGS 06392350 KANSAS R AT DESOTO, KS
| -
The stage-discharge rating is Eerº.
used in cºnjunction with the
recorded stage to determine
discharge. -
Real-Time Data for Kansas
-
-
- -
WaterWatch -- Current water resources conditions
Map of real-time streamflow compared to historical streamflow
for the day of the year (United States)
May 23 May 24 May 25 May 26 May 27
DATES: 05/23/2003 to 05/29/03 13:26
EXPLANATION
– DISCHARGE
A MEDIAN DALLY STREAMFLOW BASED ON 85 YEARS OF RECORD
May 28 May 29
Daily Streamſlow Conditions
select a site to retrieve data and station information.
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Statewide Streamflow Table
Real-time data typically are recºrded tº 15-60 minute intervals, stored onste, and
then transmitted tº USGS chi:er every 1 to 4 hours, depending on the data relay
technique used. Recording and transmission times may be more fre -
critical events Data frºm real-timatiºns are relayed to tisºs offices via satelite,
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Schematic diagram showing flow of continuous near real-time streamflow and lake-level information.


























Near Real-Time Water-
Quality Information
Water-Gºuality Sample and In-Stream Water-
Results from laboratory
samples
analysis of water-quality
Quality Monitor
Fluoresence
Dissolueds. A
0}{Ugen
Zulater
º temperature
LSpecific
A conductance
Measured water properties
Simple Linear Regression Analysis
Results from
laboratory
analysis of
water-quality
samples are
related to
SøTSO" tº CSUTE-
ments to develop
site-specific
models for
estimating
constituent
concentrations.
Real-time sensor
measurements
and regression
analysis are used
to estimate
constituent
concentrations.
The sensor
measurements
and estimates
are updated
hourly and
displayed on the
World Wide
Web.
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withdrawn for public supply to meet the changes in
water quality. The real-time water-quality monitoring
network is also used to help preserve the recreational
benefits of area waters. As part of the ongoing Total
Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program adminis-
tered by the Kansas Department of Health and Envi-
ronment, real-time water-quality information is used
to:
•immediately identify undesireable levels of water-
quality consitutents in source water;
• more accurately estimate loads for TMDL develop-
ment;
• optimize visits to water-quality sampling sites; and
• adjust management strategies rapidly when high
concentrations of water-quality constituents may
affect the quality of a water supply.
ATMDL is an estimate of the maximum pollutant
load (material transported during a specified time
period) from point and nonpoint sources that a
receiving water can accept without exceeding water-
quality Standards.
For more information on real-time water-qual-
ity information available for Kansas, visit the USGS
Web Sites at URL:
http://ks. waterdata.usgs.gov/Kansas/rtgw
Or
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/qw
KANSAS AND THE PEOPLE BENEFIT
The water resources of Kansas are in many ways
the lifeblood of our State and represent a vital asset
that meets countless needs of many people every day.
Accurate, timely scientific information is needed to
assess, manage, and use the State's waters to their
greatest benefit.
For more information, visit the USGS Web site at
URL:
http://ks. water.usgs.gov/
Or COntact:
District Chief
U.S. Geological Survey
482.1 Quail Crest Place
Lawrence, Kansas 66049–3839
(785) 842–9909
Schematic diagram showing flow of continuous near real-time water-qual
information from monitoring stations to the World WideWeb.
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ii
tyUNIVERSITY OF MICHER
SEP 18 2003
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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lail: dc_ks@usgs.gov
LIBRARIES
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