Lower Arkansas

The Lower Arkansas Basin covers 11,500 square miles of south-central Kansas.  The basin has the second largest population of all the twelve major river basins, with an estimated 641,000 residents in the year 2000.  The population is projected to grow to nearly 813,000 in the year 2040.  The basin includes all or parts of 20 counties.  The Arkansas River flows generally southeast across the basin.  Major tributaries entering the river along its course are Rattlesnake Creek, Cow Creek, Little Arkansas River, Ninnescah River and Slate Creek.  Other major streams in the basin that join the Arkansas River in Oklahoma are the Chikaskia River, Medicine Lodge River and Salt Fork.  The major reservoir in the basin is Cheney Reservoir.

The topography in the basin varies from flat, undulating plains of slight relief to rolling uplands and, in places, steep bluffs and hills.  Sandy soils and sand dunes are prevalent, mostly in the river valleys, but fine textured soils, tight clays and many other soil types are also represented.

The general economy of the basin is diversified, with farming throughout the area and industrial activity most heavily concentrated in the Wichita-Newton-Hutchinson vicinity.  Corn, wheat and livestock are the principal agricultural products. 

Many kinds of industries are represented in the basin, with the aircraft and oil and gas industries being of major importance.  The salt mines of the state are located largely in this basin.  There is a sizable gypsum production west of Medicine Lodge.

Groundwater is the source for 92 percent of supply for all reported uses in 1997.  Irrigation accounted for about 71 percent of all reported water pumped or diverted (1997).  Municipal use accounted for about 19 percent of water used in the basin, industry for over 9 percent and recreation and stockwater combined about 1.5 percent (1997).