KGS--Kansas River Corridor--Recreation

Chapter 4 of The Kansas River Corridor--Its Geologic Setting, Land Use, Economic Geology, and Hydrology

Recreation

Lawrence L. Brady, Kansas Geological Survey

Recreation Potential of the Kansas River and its Floodplain

The Kansas River in northeast Kansas provides the important water source for sustaining the large population of this region. The 10 counties adjacent to the Kansas River contain about one million people or about 40 percent of the people in Kansas. Water from the river is important for the industry, agriculture, and the population that has increased in parts of the Kansas River floodplain, along the terraces of the river, and on the hills adjacent to the river within the linear area we call the Kansas River corridor. Recreation for the citizens occupying this corridor, whether hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, canoeing, or nature observation, are all activities that draw people to the river itself. Many people in the corridor look to the river as a source of recreation as an escape from daily work. This is similar to the work efforts of the river itself in providing water for irrigation, industry, towns, and cities, and its bed load is used for development of those towns and cities and the infrastructure connecting them. The population is here because the river is here. How can this river provide the recreation for that population?

Although often criticized for their efforts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recognized early the recreational needs of the population; those needs were included as an important part of the major water projects it has developed in Kansas and the Midwest. Several of those reservoirs are on major tributaries to rivers and streams of the Kansas River. Along the Kansas River and its tributaries, the USACE recognized 29 potential sites for possible future development for recreation uses. The Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service (HCRS), a Federal agency that was abolished in 1981, with some of its functions assigned to the National Park Service (including river recreation), and the Kansas Parks and Resources Authority (now part of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks) further evaluated those sites selected by the USACE. Factors included in their selection and evaluation are access, water attraction, vegetative cover, soils, land use, slope, user availability, and costs to acquire and develop the land. Table 4.1 is an abbreviated version of the original table (HCRS, 1980, table 1) and lists the 15 sites selected along/or very close to the Kansas River, giving general characteristics and evaluation of each site. Only one of the 15 sites was found to be unsuitable, while 12 sites rated good, and two rated fair on over-all site qualities.

TABLE 4.1--Evaluation criteria for potential recreation sites along the Kansas River as evaluated by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service and the Kansas Parks and Resources Authority from sites initially determined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Selected information shown in this table is from HCRS (1980, Table 1).

River
Mile CO Acres Resource
Potential Potential
Activities Shade Cover Acquisition
Costs Development
Costs User
Availability Overall Site
Qualities

0 WY 6 Boat Access P-B-F-H-WS
S-WP-CA-BI Negligible Negligible High Moderate Auto Fair

8-9 WY 36 Natural Area P-B-F-H-WS-S
WP-NS-BI-HR Fair Fair Moderate Moderate Auto Good

17-18 WY 1 Boat Access P-B-F-H-S-NS
BI-CA Good Good Moderate Moderate Bicycle Good

21 JO 5 Boat Access P-B-F-H-WS-S
WP-NS-BI-HR-CA Fair Fair Moderate Moderate Bicycle Fair

27 JO 8 Boat Access P-S-F-H-WS-S
WP-NS-HR-CA Poor Poor High Moderate Auto Good

34-35 LV 1 Boat Access P-B-F-H-S-WP
NS-HR-CA Fair Fair Moderate Moderate Bicycle Good

41-42 DG 1 Boat Access P-B-F-H-S-WP
NS-HR-CA Good Good Moderate Moderate Bicycle Good

43-44 DG 61 Regional Park P-B-C-F-H-WS
S-WP-NS-BI
HR-CA Excellent Excellent Moderate Moderate Auto Good

73-74 SN 30 Regional Park P-B-C-F-H-WP
NS-BI-HR-CA Excellent Excellent Possible
Donation Possible
Donation Auto Good

81 SN 25 Community- P-B-C-F-WS-S
WP-NS-CS-BI
HR-T-CA Fair Fair Moderate Moderate Bicycle Good

82-83 SN 26 Community-
Neighborhood
Park P-B-F-WS
WP-CS-NS-BI
HR-CA Excellent Excellent Moderate Moderate Bicycle Good

100-101 SN 26 Regional Park P-S-H-WS-S-WP
NS-BI-HR-CA Excellent Excellent Moderate Moderate Auto Good

107-108 SN 30 Regional Park P-SW-B-C-F-H
WS-S-WP-NS
BI-HR-CA Excellent Excellent Moderate Moderate Auto Good

150 RL 28 Regional Park P-B-C-F-H-WS
S-WP-NS-BI
HR-CA Excellent Excellent Moderate Moderate Bicycle Good

169 GE 35 Regional Park P-B-C-F-H-WS
S-WP-NS-BI
HR-CA Excellent Excellent Already in
public
ownership Moderate Bicycle Unsuitable

River Mile	CO	Acres	Resource Potential	Potential Activities	Shade	Cover	Acquisition Costs	Development Costs	User Availability	Overall Site Qualities
0	WY	6	Boat Access	P-B-F-H-WS S-WP-CA-BI	Negligible	Negligible	High	Moderate	Auto	Fair
8-9	WY	36	Natural Area	P-B-F-H-WS-S WP-NS-BI-HR	Fair	Fair	Moderate	Moderate	Auto	Good
17-18	WY	1	Boat Access	P-B-F-H-S-NS BI-CA	Good	Good	Moderate	Moderate	Bicycle	Good
21	JO	5	Boat Access	P-B-F-H-WS-S WP-NS-BI-HR-CA	Fair	Fair	Moderate	Moderate	Bicycle	Fair
27	JO	8	Boat Access	P-S-F-H-WS-S WP-NS-HR-CA	Poor	Poor	High	Moderate	Auto	Good
34-35	LV	1	Boat Access	P-B-F-H-S-WP NS-HR-CA	Fair	Fair	Moderate	Moderate	Bicycle	Good
41-42	DG	1	Boat Access	P-B-F-H-S-WP NS-HR-CA	Good	Good	Moderate	Moderate	Bicycle	Good
43-44	DG	61	Regional Park	P-B-C-F-H-WS S-WP-NS-BI HR-CA	Excellent	Excellent	Moderate	Moderate	Auto	Good
73-74	SN	30	Regional Park	P-B-C-F-H-WP NS-BI-HR-CA	Excellent	Excellent	Possible Donation	Possible Donation	Auto	Good
81	SN	25	Community-	P-B-C-F-WS-S WP-NS-CS-BI HR-T-CA	Fair	Fair	Moderate	Moderate	Bicycle	Good
82-83	SN	26	Community- Neighborhood Park	P-B-F-WS WP-CS-NS-BI HR-CA	Excellent	Excellent	Moderate	Moderate	Bicycle	Good
100-101	SN	26	Regional Park	P-S-H-WS-S-WP NS-BI-HR-CA	Excellent	Excellent	Moderate	Moderate	Auto	Good
107-108	SN	30	Regional Park	P-SW-B-C-F-H WS-S-WP-NS BI-HR-CA	Excellent	Excellent	Moderate	Moderate	Auto	Good
150	RL	28	Regional Park	P-B-C-F-H-WS S-WP-NS-BI HR-CA	Excellent	Excellent	Moderate	Moderate	Bicycle	Good
169	GE	35	Regional Park	P-B-C-F-H-WS S-WP-NS-BI HR-CA	Excellent	Excellent	Already in public ownership	Moderate	Bicycle	Unsuitable

Potential Activities Code: B-Boating; BI-Bicycling; C-Camping; CA-Canoeing; F-Fishing; H-Hiking; HR-Horseback Riding; NS-Nature Study; P-Picnicking; S-Sailing; SW-Swimming; T- Tennis; WP-Walking for Pleasure; WS-Water Skiing

A 57-mile (91.2-km) portion of the Kansas River from I-635 (RM 7.4) to the confluence of the Delaware River with the Kansas River just north of Lecompton at RM 64.4 also was studied by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service as a potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System of the United States. This study (HCRS, 1980), presented in draft form, is the important part of Appendix 7 of that report, that was published separately from the USACE (1980) Kansas and Osage Rivers, Kansas Study.

A summary of the eligibility of the Kansas River to meet the 1970 guidelines for inclusion with the National Wild and Scenic Rivers (HCRS, 1980, table 2, p. 14), Table 4.2 in this study, showed that a 57-mile (91.2-km) reach of the Kansas River meets the necessary criteria. Further discussion in the HCRS (1980) report indicates that selected stretch of the Kansas River could be classified as a recreational river, based on conditions that existed at the time of the study. The important points from the HCRS (1980) study determining how the Kansas River meets the criteria for consideration as a recreational river are summarized in the report (p.16) as follows:

Flow: Regulated by tributary dams above this river reach, the flow is relatively slow; sufficient for all types of water-related recreation. Slow flow permits appreciation of river's outstanding attributes.
Accessibility: Limited; major areas for boat access are Lawrence, Eudora, and Edwardsville.
Shoreline: Broad valley floor is bordered by bluff lines which meander from forming a high bank line to as far as several miles from the river; two major towns, Lawrence and Kansas City, Kansas, with the smaller communities of Eudora, De Soto, Lecompton, Linwood, Edwardsville, Bonner Springs, and Muncie abutting the river; agricultural lands with farm facilities as well as railroad tracks and highways dominate bottomlands; cottonwoods, willows, and shrubs line the stream course; hardwoods in bluff areas.
Water Quality: Several pollution sources from bordering habitations and communities; suited for recreation activities and propagation of normal aquatic life.

TABLE 4.2--Summary of the eligibility criteria of the Kansas River 57-mile (91.2-km) segment (RM 7.4 to RM 64.4) for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Information included in HCRS, 1980, table 2, p.14.

Characteristics 57-mile (91.2-km) Segment

Free-flowing Nature Affected by

Impoundments One Low-head Dam

Diversions None

Road Fills None

Bank Stabilizations Several

Length 57 Miles (91.2 km)

Water Quality Meets Criteria for:

Secondary Contact Recreation Yes

Water Esthetics Yes

Fish and Aquatic-life Propagation Yes

Outstanding Remarkable Values

Scenic Yes

Recreation Yes

Geologic No

Fish and Wildlife Yes

Historic and Archeologic Yes

Cultural Yes

Eligibility for National Wild and Scenic River System Eligible

Characteristics	57-mile (91.2-km) Segment
Free-flowing Nature Affected by
	Impoundments	One Low-head Dam
	Diversions	None
	Road Fills	None
	Bank Stabilizations	Several
Length	57 Miles (91.2 km)
Water Quality Meets Criteria for:
	Secondary Contact Recreation	Yes
	Water Esthetics	Yes
	Fish and Aquatic-life Propagation	Yes
Outstanding Remarkable Values
	Scenic	Yes
	Recreation	Yes
	Geologic	No
	Fish and Wildlife	Yes
	Historic and Archeologic	Yes
	Cultural	Yes
Eligibility for National Wild and Scenic River System	Eligible

The report presented recommendations for development of the 57-mile (91.2-km) segment (RM 7.4 to RM 64.4) as a recreational river component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The report further presents general plans for the necessary development to be accomplished for that inclusion. Basically, easements on 272 acres (110.1 ha) at nine specific sites would need to be undertaken by a sponsoring agency. The principal objective of the recreational river concept is to provide enhanced recreational opportunities (USACE, 1981, p. B10).

The USACE (1981, p. 75) report concerning the 57-mile (91.2-km) segment of the Kansas River proposed by the HCRS as a recreation river concluded the HCRS proposal to be desirable based on recreation and environmental values. The USACE, however, determined that additional bank-stabilization measures would be necessary to ensure the integrity of the plan. No USACE analysis of recreation values, benefits, or costs was performed on the HCRS plan.

Kansas Recreational Corridor Study

During the latter stages of the 1996 Kansas legislative session, the Kansas Legislature determined that a multiagency study be made of the development of recreational opportunities along the Kansas River. The recreational study is to be completed by January 12, 1998, and will be conducted by the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing, in conjunction with the Kansas Water Office, Kansas Geological Survey, Kansas Biological Survey, and the Department of Wildlife and Parks.

With this multiagency study underway at the time of drafting of this study by the Kansas Geological Survey, no additional discussion will be made in this report of the recreational uses of the Kansas River. The multi-agency group includes several agencies better prepared to address the importance and details of a recreation corridor along portions of or all of the 170 miles (272 km) of the Kansas River from Kansas City to Junction City.

References

Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service, 1980, The Kansas (Kaw) River from confluence of Delaware and Kansas rivers (River Mile 64.4) to Interstate 635 bridge crossing (River Mile 7.4), a potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; in, Appendix 7 to accompany the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reconnaissance report--Kansas and Osage rivers, Kansas: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, p. 1-30, plus 5 appendixes.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1980, Reconnaissance report--Kansas and Osage rivers, Kansas: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District.

________, 1981, Stage 2 report--Kansas and Osage rivers, Kansas: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District.

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Kansas Geological Survey, Kansas River Corridor Study
Electronic version Jan. 13, 1998.
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