Kansas Water Dashboards
Public Dashboards
The WATER Hub has aligned its public-facing dashboards in Kansas with the four pillars of the Kansas Water Plan (KWP).
The KWP is developed by the Kansas Water Office, in coordination with local, state, federal, and interstate partners. The KWP is one of the primary tools used by the State of Kansas to address current water resources issues and to plan for future needs.
About
The High Plains Aquifer is a critical water source for much of western Kansas. It supports agriculture, industry, and communities throughout the region. Over time, water levels in the aquifer have declined due to various factors such as groundwater withdrawals, natural recharge variability, and climate patterns. In Kansas, the Ogallala Aquifer is the most heavily relied upon portion of the High Plains Aquifer, with significant variations in water-level changes across different areas. Monitoring these changes is key to understanding the aquifer's future availability.
Data Used
This dashboard visualizes data from the Well Inventory Database (WIZARD), managed by the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS). Historical depth-to-water measurements were originally collected by the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Ground Water Site Inventory (GWSI). Since 1996, the USGS has obtained these measuments directly from the state and local agencies responsible for data collection.
Today, about two-thirds of the annual water-level data are submitted by local Groundwater Management Districts (GMDs) and the Kansas Department of Agriculture's Division of Water Resources (DWR). The remaining third is updated by the KGS.
This dashboard also includes data on aquifer saturated thickness, last measured in 2009 by the USGS.
About
Reservoirs play a vital role in Kansas, providing water for municipal use, agriculture, and flood control. However, sedimentation in these reservoirs is steadily reducing their capacity, which may affect water availability and storage capabilities in the future. Managing sedimentation and ensuring the continued functionality of these reservoirs is a key focus for long-term water resource planning.
Data Used
This dashboard visualizes data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reservoir reports, which provide insights into storage capacity, sedimentation rates, and operational information for Kansas reservoirs. These reports allows users to explore trends and current conditions in the state's reservoir systems. Data for Kansas come from both the USACE Kansas City District and the USACE Tulsa District.
About
Water quality in Kansas is influenced by various factors, including agricultural practices, industrial activities, and natural conditions. Ensuring that water bodies maintain a quality level that supports human consumption, agriculture, and ecosystems is a priority for the state. Monitoring and addressing issues such as nutrient runoff and harmful algal blooms are part of broader efforts to maintain water quality.
Data Used
This dashboard visualizes data from the Water Quality Portal, which is a joint effort of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The water quality measurements used in the dashboard are collected by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). This data tracks key water quality indicators such as nutrient levels and contaminant concentrations in Kansas’s water bodies, offering users the ability to explore and analyze water quality conditions across the state.
About
Kansas frequently faces extreme weather events like droughts and floods, which place stress on both water availability and infrastructure. These events have wide-ranging impacts on agriculture, public safety, and water management. As climate variability increases, understanding the frequency and effects of extreme events is essential for planning and resilience efforts.
Data Used
This dashboard visualizes data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Open Data platform, which includes disaster declarations, public assistance provided to state and local governments, and individual assistance applications. Additionally, PRISM precipitation data is used to track patterns in rainfall and drought over time. This data helps inform the public about the occurrence of extreme events and their potential impacts on Kansas’s water resources.
Extreme Events Dashboard (Coming Soon)
Private Dashboards
The WATER Hub private dashboards use data from well sensors sent via LoRaWAN gateways to a cloud-based server, where the data is processed and visualized to help city water officials and irrigators make data-driven decisions about daily water usage and well safety.
The figure below shows an example of a private dashboard delivering water quality information to a city in western Kansas, a region facing significant water quality challenges related to nitrates. Our project team collaborated with the city’s water officials to select the appropriate sensors and determine the best locations for installation. The dashboard notifies city officials if nitrate levels in any of their wells exceed the Safe Drinking Water Act’s safe limit of 10 milligrams per liter. When nitrate levels rise above this threshold, the city temporarily stops pumping from the affected well and relies on other wells to supply municipal water.
Convergence Accelerator Phase II Gateway Expansion
To accomplish the private dashboard expansion, our project team will increase its capacity to install sensors and gateways, as well as build individualized dashboards for each city in a GMD in western KS and build private dashboards for 33 irrigators operatng near those cities. The cities in GMDs 1, 3, and 4 are visualized in the figures below, and include 6 cities in GMD 1, 24 cities in GMD 3, and 11 cities in GMD 4. Note that there are 27 cities in GMD 3 and our team has built dashboards for three of those cities in Phase I.
