About 57% of the total Grand Lake Watershed in within the state of Kansas. The Neosho River Watershed is one of the largest sources of surface water for the state of Kansas. The Neosho River begins in Morris County flowing into southeast Kansas. The Neosho River then crosses into northeast Oklahoma and merges with the Spring River just west of Wyandotte, Oklahoma, to form the Grand River which then flows into Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees.

The Cottonwood River is a major tributary of the Neosho River. The Cottonwood begins in Marion County, Kansas, and then joins the Neosho River just east of Emporia, Kansas.

Part of the Spring River, which originates in southwest Missouri, flows into southeast Kansas entering in Cherokee County near Galena, Kansas, and then south to Baxter Springs, Kansas, crossing into Oklahoma and joining with the Neosho River. About 500 square miles of the Spring River Watershed are located in southeast Kansas.

Three major federal reservoirs are located in the Neosho River Watershed. Each of these three are U. S. Corps of Engineers reservoirs: Marion Lake, Council Grove Lake, and John Redmond Lake. According to the U. S. Corps of Engineer estimates, these three lakes generate $17.7 million annually from water based recreation. According to the Kansas Water Office, there is a State Fishing Lake in every county, and nine community lakes in addition to the three major reservoirs. The Coffee County State Fishing Lake, located near Burlington, Kansas, provides the water supply for the Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant.

There were about 174,000 residents ( 2000 census) in the Kansas portion of the Grand Lake Watershed. Agriculture, crops and cattle, is a significant contributor to the local economy. Land use in the Neosho River Watershed is about: 36% natural grasslands, 26% planted pasture, 24% cropland, 5% forest, 5% developed-low intensity or open space, and about 3% wetlands and open water.

Nutrients and Sediment are priority impairments in the Neosho River Watershed. Each of the major reservoirs, Marion Lake, Council Grove Lake, and John Redmond Lake
are impaired due to excess phosphorous and each has water quality issues from sediment/silt. The Neosho River itself is prone to stream bank erosion that causes sediment transport and silting problems.

In about 2003, Marion Lake began experiencing blue-green algae blooms, This was the beginning of a series of annual blue-green algae blooms that included a toxic bloom in 2005. Experts believe excess levels of phosphorous in Marion Lake was a material contributor to these blue-green algae blooms.

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve covers about 1,900 acres and is in the Neosho River Watershed. Also, the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge is located above the John Redmond Reservoir on about 18,000 acres of land owned by the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

MAPS: Click: Neosho River-Kansas         Spring River Watershed     Grand Lake Watershed

CITIZEN GROUPS:

The State of Kansas seeks input from Kansas citizens and stakeholders about water matters. A program named Kansas WRAPS (Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy)  allows citizens and stakeholders to participate in their local watershed.  We urge you to join and support your local WRAPS group giving you the opportunity to shape the future of your section of the watershed.

Present Kansas WRAPS groups within the Grand Lake Watershed include:

Marion Reservoir WRAPS, Peggy Blackman, Flint Hills RC &D, 3020 W 18th Ave, Suite C, Emporia, KS 66801-0260 (620)3822541

Spring River WRAPS, See-Kan RC &D 871 S. Country Club Road, Chanute, KS 66720 (620)4316180

Twin Lakes WRAPS, Angela Beavers, Flint Hills RC &D, 3020 W 18th Ave, Suite C, Emporia, KS 66801-0260 (620)7875111

Cottonwood WRAPS, Kyle Mankin, 129 Seaton Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS66506 (785)5322911 

Eagle Creek WRAPS, Mary Lou Ponder, Coffey County Conservation District, 313 Cross Street, Burlington, KS 66839 (620)3642182

Neosho River Basin WRAPS (Planning) Robert Wilson, 10E Umberger Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-3415

KANSAS WATER QUALITY RELATED AGENCIES

Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 1000 SW Jackson, Topeka, KS 66612 (785)2961500

Kansas Water Office, 901 S. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66612 (888)5269283

Kansas Department of Agriculture, 109 SW 9th St, Topeka, KS 66612-1280 (785)2963556

State Conservation Commission, 109 SW 9th St, Topeka, KS 66612-1299 (785)2963600

Kansas Geological Survey, 1930 Constant Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66047-3726 (785)8643965)