Watershed Management Section
Jaime Gaggero,
Interim Section Chief
PHONE: (785) 296-4195; FAX: (785) 296-5509
1000 SW Jackson St, Ste 420
Topeka, KS
66612-1367
Kansas Nonpoint Source Pollution
May 2012
June 2012
July 2012
August 2012
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012
EPA recognizes Kansas' Success in Water Quality Restoration
Walnut and West creeks are located in the Toronto Reservoir watershed, which is used primarily as grassland for livestock grazing. Nonpoint source pollution, specifically nutrients from poor pasture management and livestock areas affected water quality, prompting the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to add both creeks to the state's list of impaired waters in 1998 for low levels of dissolved oxygen. Several organizations worked collaboratively with local landowners to implement agricultural best management practices. As a result, water quality monitoring data collected since 2002 showed improved water quality and the department has since removed both creeks from the state's 2010 list of impaired waters for dissolved oxygen impairment.
Walnut and West Creek Success Story
Grazing land or grassland is the predominant land use in the Fall River watershed. Low levels of oxygen and fecal coliform bacteria affected water quality in the upper Fall River watershed, prompting the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to add the river to the state's 1998 list of impaired waters for low levels of dissolved oxygen. In cooperation with the local Kansas Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy Upper Fall River Project, project partners in Greenwood County implemented several agricultural best management practices throughout the watershed. As a result, river monitoring data collected between 2000 and 2011 showed that water bodies in the upper Fall River watershed now meet the state’s water quality standards, and the department has removed nearly 144 miles of streams in the upper Fall River watershed from the 2010 list of impaired waters for dissolved oxygen impairment.
Celebrating 40 Years of the Clean Water Act
The piece of legislation that would turn the tide for water quality was signed into law almost 40 years ago. Prior to the Clean Water Act's enactment, water quality in American had decreased significantly. Many remember the Cuyahoya River, catching fire due to the high levels of pollution. Today, the Clean Water Act has provided Kansans, along with millions of other Americans, greater quality water for swimming, drinking, fishing, as well as many other recreational uses.
For 2012, let all of Kansas' citizens work together to improve our waters even more. KDHE invites all users of Kansas water to become Clean Water Neighbors and do their part to protect and restore. Explore many of the programs Watershed Mangement Section implements or contact us for more information on what you can do for Kansas waters.
The Watershed Management Section implements Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, coordinating programs designed to eliminate or minimize pollution that does not come from the end of a pipe. The section develops and reviews strategies, management plans, local environmental protection plans, and county environmental codes intended to control nonpoint source pollution.
Clean Water Neighbor Program (CWN)
Local Environmental Protection Program (LEPP)
Kansas Source Water Planning Program (SWPP)
Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS)
Section 401 Water Quality Certification
Watershed Management Section Projects
Grant Application/Grant Management Information
Watershed Assessments and Reports
Planning, Management, & Reports
Water Quality Information and Resources
Related Information
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