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The surface water register: an empirically improved sample frame for monitoring the rivers and streams of Kansas
Citation:
Smith, E. AND A. R. OLSEN. The surface water register: an empirically improved sample frame for monitoring the rivers and streams of Kansas. Presented at Seventh National Monitoring Conference, Denver, CO, April 25 - 29, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
State-wide monitoring based on probability survey designs requires a spatially explicit representation of all streams and rivers of interest within a state, i.e., a sample frame.
Description:
State-wide monitoring based on probability survey designs requires a spatially explicit representation of all streams and rivers of interest within a state, i.e., a sample frame. The sample frame should be the best available map representation of the resource. Many stream programs use the 1:100K National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) as the basis of their sample frame. In Kansas, the NHD contains about 130,000 miles of rivers and streams. In reality, due to dewatering and other factors, Kansas probably has only about 30,000 miles of perennial and intermittent streams and rivers with sufficient water to support aquatic life. Over the past 15 years, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has developed and refined the Kansas Surface Water Register, a ground-truthed representation of the state’s waters. The KSWR is used as the sample frame for state survey designs, and its mileage is the basis for Integrated Reporting on water quality. However, the NHD is still used for national designs. For this study, we created a survey design based on NHD-Plus where segments were identified as in KSWR or not in KSWR. In each of twelve basins, up to 80 sites were evaluated by office (e.g., maps, internet searches) and field reconnaissance to determine if they met the definition of stream of interest. We demonstrate the KSWR is an accurate representation of viable Kansas stream and river resources. To our knowledge, this is the first quantitative attempt to document the accuracy of a state sample frame. This project provides a foundation for future iterations and adjustments of the KSWR. As a corollary project, we present several alternative estimates of the percentage of KSWR stream mileage that can be classified as perennial. We also include a brief discussion of the challenges of developing sample frames and survey designs for intermittent streams. Intermittent streams are an important component of viable stream and river resource in Great Plains and western United States.