Verdigris River Basin

The Verdigris Basin covers approximately 4,440 square miles and encompasses all or parts of 11 counties in southeastern Kansas.  The Verdigris River is a tributary of the Arkansas River and the basin includes Hydrologic Unit Codes 11070101, 11070102, 11070103, 11070104, and 11070105.  The Arkansas River originates in central Colorado, where it flows southeast into and across Kansas before crossing into Oklahoma just south of Arkansas City. The Verdigris River mainstem rises in the southeastern corner of Chase County and flows in a general south - southeasterly direction for about 350 miles to its junction with the Arkansas River near Muskogee, Oklahoma. Elevation ranges from about 1,650 feet at the headwaters to about 680 feet at the state line. The Verdigris basin in Kansas covers approximately 4,440 square miles and encompasses all or parts of 11 counties in the southeastern part of the state.  Near the City of Grove Oklahoma, the Verdigris River is dammed to form Oolagah Reservoir, a major drinking water supply storage for the City of Tulsa.  Approximately two-thirds of the watershed above this reservoir is in Kansas.

u Verdigris Basin Advisory Committee Membership Application

Current Projects in the Verdigris Basin

• Reservoir Roadmap - KWO is developing a plan to manage water resources in the basin to ensure long term availability of water supply from the four reservoirs in the basin.  The plan will be discussed at upcoming BAC meetings and is scheduled to be completed by December 2010.

• Fall River WRAPS - A WRAPS plan has been approved and projects are being implemented to improve and protect water quality in the watershed and reservoir. This project covers the watershed above Fall River Reservoir.

• Toronto WRAPS - A WRAPS plan has been approved and projects are being implemented to improve and protect water quality in the watershed and reservoir. This project covers the watershed above Toronto Reservoir.

• Middle Verdigris WRAPS - A WRAPS plan has been approved and projects are being implemented to improve and protect water quality in the watershed. This project covers the area between Fredonia and Neodesha.

Past Meetings & Materials

• April 12, 2012 - VER BAC Meeting - 1:00 pm - Housing Authority Building Meeting Room, 118 S. 6th Street, Neodesha, KS - Meeting Materials
• January 25-26, 2012 - KWA Topeka, KS
• November 3-4, 2011 - KWA, Lawrence 
• September 8, 2011 - VER BAC Meeting, 1:00 p.m., Ranch Restaurant, 115 South School Road, Sedan KS - Join us for lunch at 12:00 p.m. - Meeting Materials
• August 11-12, 2011 - KWA, Lyons
• June 2, 2011 - Verdigris BAC Teleconference Meeting, 1:00 p.m., KWO Conference Room, 901 S. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS - Meeting Materials
• March 24, 2011 - Verdigris BAC Meeting, 1:00 p.m., Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 4, 18077 Douglas Road, Cherryvale, KS - Meeting Materials

Questions? - Contact Debra.Baker@kwo.ks.gov - KWO Verdigris Basin Planner - Deb is an Environmental Scientist and Water Resources Planner.  Her background is in aquatic biology, watershed management and environmental planning.  She has been with the Kansas Water Office for seven years and was previously employed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and several environmental consulting firms.

Upcoming Meetings & Materials

• June 6, 2012 - Verdigris BAC Meeting, Coffeyville Resources, 400 North Linden Street, Coffeyville, KS

Water News for the BAC Members

Meeting Notes

• April 2012
• September 2011
• June 2011
• March 2011
• Meeting Notes 2010
• Meeting Notes 2009
• Meeting Notes 2008

Basin Related Links

• Kansas Water Plan (KWP)
• KWP Verdigris Basin Section
• KWP Verdigris Atlas
• KWO Calendar
• Kansas Water Authority (KWA)
• KWA Meeting Materials
• Zebra Mussels