Changes in High-Flow Frequency and 

Channel Geometry of the Neosho River 

Downstream From John Redmond Dam, 

Southeastern Kansas

By SETH E. STUDLEY

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4243

Prepared in cooperation with the 

KANSAS WATER OFFICE

Lawrence, Kansas 

1996
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Gordon P. Eaton, Director

For additional information write to:

District Chief 

U.S. Geological Survey 

4821 Quail Crest Place 

Lawrence, Kansas 66049-3839

Copies of this report can be purchased 

from:

U.S. Geological Survey 

Information Services 

Box 25286 

Denver, CO 80225-0286
CONTENTS

Abstract............ ..................................................................................................................................................................^ 1

Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................... 1

High-Flow Frequency............................................................................................................................................................ 3

Channel Geometry................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Summary................................................................................................................................................................................ 11

References Cited.................................................................................................................................................................... 16

FIGURES

1. Maps showing location of Neosho River Basin in Kansas and streamflow-gaging stations used for analysis

in this study........................................................................................................................................................... 2

2-5. Graphs showing:

2. 7-day and 30-day high-flow frequency curves for Neosho River at Strawn, Kansas, prior to completion of

John Redmond Dam, and for Neosho River at Burlington, Kansas, after completion of John Redmond Dam 4

3. 7-day and 30-day high-flow frequency curves for Neosho River near lola, Kansas......................................... 5

4. 7-day and 30-day high-flow frequency curves for Neosho River near Parsons, Kansas................................... 6

5. How-duration curves for U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations downstream from John

Redmond Dam.................................................................................................................................................. 8

6. Map showing National Weather Service climatic regions for Kansas.................................................................... 9

7-10. Graphs showing:

7. Total annual precipitation for climatic regions 6 and 9 in Kansas .................................................................... 11

8. Mean annual discharges at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations downstream from John

Redmond Dam.................................................................................................................................................. 12

9. Annual peak discharges for U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations downstream from John

Redmond Dam.................................................................................................................................................. 13

10. Stages for mean annual discharges and median annual peak discharges at U.S. Geological Survey

streamflow-gaging stations downstream from John Redmond Dam................................................................ 15

TABLES

1. U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations used in this study.................................................................. 3

2. Pre- and post-dam comparisons of high-flow frequency estimates for the Neosho River at Strawn and at

Burlington, Kansas................................................................................................................................................ 7

3. Pre- and post-dam comparisons of high-flow frequency estimates for the Neosho River near lola, Kansas......... 7

4. Pre- and post-dam comparisons of high-flow frequency estimates for the Neosho River near Parsons, Kansas... 7

5. Trend analysis of forcing variables tested in the Neosho River Basin downstream from John Redmond Dam .... 10

6. Trend analysis of stages related to the mean annual discharge and median annual peak discharge at

selected streamflow-gaging stations in the study area .......................................................................................... 14

Contents III
CONVERSION FACTORS AND ABBREVIATIONS

__________Multiply______________By______________To obtain_______

cubic foot per second (ftVs) 0.02832 cubic meter per second

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter 

foot per year (ft/yr) 0.3048 meter per year 

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter 

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer 

_________square mile (mi2)_____________2.590______________square kilometer____

Water year: A water year is a 12-month period, from October 1 through September 30, designated 

by the calendar year in which it ends. Years are water years in this report unless otherwise stated.

IV Changes in High-Flow Frequency and Channel Geometry of the Neosho River Downstream From John Redmond Dam, 

Southeastern Kansas
Changes in High-Flow Frequency and Channel 

Geometry of the Neosho River Downstream From 

John Redmond Dam, Southeastern Kansas

BySethE. Studley

Abstract

The streamflow regimen of the Neosho 

River downstream from John Redmond Dam in 

southeastern Kansas has changed significantly 

since the dam's completion in 1964. The controlled releases from the dam have decreased the 

magnitudes of peak discharges and increased the 

magnitudes of low discharges. The trends in river 

stage for selected discharges also have changed at 

two of the streamflow-gaging stations those 

closest to the dam. There is a significant downward trend in the stages associated with the 

median annual peak discharges, but no significant 

trend in the stages associated with the annual mean 

discharges, which indicates that the river channel 

is increasing in width but not depth or that the flow 

velocity has increased at the streamflow-gaging 

stations. Because there were no significant trends 

present in precipitation, mean annual discharge, or 

annual peak discharge, the changes are attributed 

to John Redmond Dam.

INTRODUCTION

The Neosho River in southeastern Kansas 

flooded 57 times in the 34-year period prior to 1964 

(Department of the Army, Tulsa District Corps of Engineers, 1984), which resulted in numerous requests from 

the public to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 

flood protection. The response to these requests was to 

build three flood-control dams in the Neosho River 

Basin (fig. 1). The effect of one of the dams, John Redmond Dam (completed September 1964), on high-flow

frequency and channel geometry of the Neosho River 

was the focus of a 1-year study (1995) conducted by the 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with 

the Kansas Water Office (KWO) and supported in part 

by the Kansas State Water Plan Fund. Results will contribute to improve understanding of the effects of dams 

on streams.

The purpose of this report is to describe changes 

in high-flow frequency and channel geometry of the 

Neosho River after the construction of John Redmond 

Dam. The scope of this report includes the analysis of 

high-flow frequency and stage-discharge relation 

changes at USGS streamflow-gaging stations downstream from John Redmond Dam and a comparison of 

the results of analyses based on data collected before 

and after completion of the dam.

The data used to determine high-flow frequencies and channel geometry were obtained from three 

currently operating USGS streamflow-gaging stations 

downstream from John Redmond Dam. In addition to 

these three stations, a discontinued station, which was 

located at Strawn, Kansas (07182400), was included to 

further analyze the high-flow frequency close to the 

dam. The discharge at the Strawn gage (operated from 

1949 to 1963) should be comparable to what would 

have been recorded at the Burlington gage site if there 

would have been a gaging station at that site during that 

time period. The most current data were used whenever 

possible. The most current data are available for highflow frequencies through the 1993 water year and for 

channel-geometry changes through the 1994 water 

year. Table 1 lists the four stations, their distance downstream from John Redmond Dam, drainage area, and 

period of record. The location of the streamflow-gaging stations is shown in figure 1.

Introduction
Boundary of 

Neosho River 

Basin in Kansas

Index map

96° 95°

38°-

Wabaunsee

Saline iDickinson

x 

Q

 'X,. l r -j

I Council Council . 

Grove >?rove

Shawnee

Douglas I Johnson

I!

Marion 

Lake 

 I A i Marion

37o_LSumner

Base from U S Environmental Protection Agency digital data, 

1:500,000,1982,

and Kansas Geological Survey digital data, 1 24,000,1992 

Lambert Conformal Conic projection 

Standard parallels 33° and 45°

KAN SAS j Montgomery I Labette 

OKLAHOMA 0 40 MILES

20 40 KILOMETERS

EXPLANATION

 Boundary of Neosho River Basin

2A Current U.S. Geological Survey streamflowgaging station Map number used in table 1

TA Discontinued U.S. Geological Survey streamflowgaging station Map number used in table 1

Figure 1. Location of Neosho River Basin in Kansas and streamflow-gaging stations used for 

analysis in this study.

2 Changes in High-Flow Frequency and Channel Geometry of the Neosho River Downstream From John Redmond Dam, 

Southeastern Kansas
Table 1. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamflow-gaging stations used in this study

[mi, miles; mi2, square miles; , not applicable]

Map 

number

(«g- 1)

i

2 

3

4

USGS 

station 

number

07182400

07182510 

07183000

07183500

USGS station name

Neosho River at Strawn, KS

Neosho River at Burlington, KS 

Neosho River near lola, KS

Neosho River near Parsons, KS

Distance 

downstream from 

John Redmond 

Dam (mi)

5.3 

56.3

139.6

Drainage 

area (mi2)

3,015

3,042 

3,818

4,905

Period of record 

(water years)

1949-63

1963-93 

1918-93

1922-93

A detailed description of the study area can be 

found in the Kansas Water Resource Board's Water 

Plan Study for the Neosho River Basin (Kansas Water 

Resources Board, 1961). The water plan study includes 

information on geology and soils as well as average 

annual precipitation and land use.

HIGH-FLOW FREQUENCY

High-flow frequency curves are used to estimate 

the exceedance probability of selected discharges. The 

median (50-percent exceedance-probability) discharge 

and the standard deviation of the fitted distribution 

curve help to describe the characteristics of the streamflow. In this study, comparisons of two curves, one 

using data prior to closure of John Redmond Dam and 

one using data after dam closure, are made using the 

discharge magnitudes of the 2-, 50-, and 95-percent 

exceedance probabilities as well as the standard deviation of each curve. Also, for this part of the report, the 

high-flow frequency curve for Strawn is illustrated and 

compared with data from the Burlington gaging station 

(map number 2, fig. 1) because of their close proximity 

and because the streamflow-gaging station at Burlington was not installed until 1963.

The high-flow frequency curves developed for 

the Neosho River downstream from John Redmond 

Dam illustrate how the discharge characteristics have 

changed since the dam was completed in September 

1964. High-flow frequencies for 7-day and 30-day 

high-flow discharges at the stations downstream from 

the dam for the period up to and including 1963 and the 

period 1965 through 1993 are shown in figures 2-4. 

The differences for all the stations are summarized in 

tables 2-4. Since the closure of the dam, the discharge 

magnitudes associated with the upper end of the curves 

(lower exceedance probabilities) have been reduced,

whereas those associated with the lower end of the 

curves (higher exceedance probabilities) have been 

increased. The magnitudes of the differences in the frequencies appear to be dependent upon the distance 

downstream from the dam. The differences are very 

large at Burlington, which is 5.3 mi downstream from 

the dam; they are much smaller at Parsons, which is 

about 140 mi downstream. This probably is due to a 

larger part of the drainage area being unregulated as the**\

distance from the dam increases (approximately 27 mi 

at Burlington and 1,863 mi2 at Parsons). Also, the standard deviations of the logs of the 7-day and 30-day data 

are greatly reduced for the post-dam period. This is 

attributed to the regulation of releases through the dam. 

Flow-duration curves for the periods before and 

after the construction of John Redmond Dam are 

shown in figure 5. For specified durations, the highflow discharges have decreased subsequent to dam 

construction, and the medium- to low-flow discharges 

have increased. The discharges rarely, if ever, become 

as low as they did prior to completion of the dam 

because, although the primary purpose for the dam is 

flood control, it also is used to regulate low flow for the 

purpose of maintaining water quality in the Neosho 

River.

CHANNEL GEOMETRY

Reservoir release operations are known to produce channel changes downstream from a dam (Williams and Wolman, 1984). Other variables such as 

precipitation and streamflow also can cause changes in 

the river channel. These variables, known as driving or 

forcing variables, were tested for trend along with the 

response variable, stage. Changes with time in the 

stage-discharge relation can be used to infer channel 

changes in the immediate vicinity of the streamflowChannel Geometry
1,000,000

500,000

200,000

100,000

50,000

20,000

10,000

5,000

2,000

1,000

500

200

100

1,000,000

- A. 7-DAY HIGH-FLOW FREQUENCY

_£>-

log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution 

(pre-1964) (Strawn)

- - - - log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution 

(1965-93) (Burlington)

pre-1964 data (Strawn) 

1965-93 data (Burlington)

± 500,000 -_ B. 30-DAY HIGH-FLOW FREQUENCY

200,000

100,000

50,000

20,000

10,000

5,000

2,000

1,000

500

200

100

log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution - 

(pre-1964) (Strawn)

- - - - log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution 

(1965-93) (Burlington)

+ pre-1964 data (Strawn) 

0 1965-93 data (Burlington)

, I , , , , I , , , ,l, ,, ,!,,,, I , , , , I , , , , I,,,,,,,, , I i i , i I i i h, i i I.

"99 98 95 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 

ANNUAL EXCEEDANCE PROBABILITY, IN PERCENT

1 0.5

Figure 2. (A) 7-day and (6) 30-day high-flow frequency curves for the Neosho River 

at Strawn, Kansas (07182400), prior to completion of John Redmond Dam, and for 

Neosho River at Burlington, Kansas (07182510), after completion of John Redmond 

Dam.

gaging station (Wahl and Weiss, 1995). These variables 

were analyzed for the period up to the end of the 1963 

water year and also for trie period from 1965 through 

1993, which coincide with the periods before and after 

completion of John Redmond Dam. The forcing variables considered in this study are described below: 

Precipitation data are the annual averages and were 

obtained from the National Weather Service for

Kansas climatic regions 6 and 9. These two regions 

cover most of the Neosho River Basin in southeast 

Kansas. The results of the trend test would indicate 

whether or not a climatic change occurred in the 

study area during the period of interest. 

Annual mean discharge is the yearly average of the 

daily mean discharges for each station. The trendtest results are expected to show any systematic

4 Changes in High-Flow Frequency and Channel Geometry of the Neosho River Downstream From John Redmond Dam, 

Southeastern Kansas
1,000,000

500,000

200,000

100,000

50,000

20,000

10,000

5,000

2,000

1,000

500

200

O 100

m

0 1,000,000

A. 7-DAY HIGH-FLOW FREQUENCY

log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution 

(pre-1964)

log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution 

(1965-93)

+ pre-1964 data 

0 1965-93 data

oc

500,000

200,000

100,000

50,000

20,000

10,000

5,000

2,000

1,000

500

200

'- B. 30-DAY HIGH-FLOW FREQUENCY

100

*,' o

log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution 

(pre-1964)

---- log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution 

(1965-93)

+ pre-1964 data 

0 1965-93 data

99 98 95 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 

ANNUAL EXCEEDANCE PROBABILITY, IN PERCENT

1 0.5

Figure 3. (A) 7-day and (B) 30-day high-flow frequency curves for Neosho River 

near lola, Kansas (0718300).

departures from normal discharges, which could 

cause channel changes.

Annual peak discharge is the maximum instantaneous discharge for a given year. Changes in the 

magnitude of annual peaks can have an effect on the 

geometry and stability of the channel.

These forcing variables, except for precipitation, were 

only tested to determine if there are other systematic 

factors, in addition to the regulation effect of the 

dam, that may be affecting the response of the system. Precipitation was tested to determine any climatic trends.

The response variable tested for trend is the 

stream stage at selected discharge magnitudes. Two 

discharge magnitudes were selected. The annual mean 

discharge, or the average discharge for the period of 

record, was used because generally it reflects moderate 

to low discharges. The median annual peak discharge 

was used because it generally is about the same magniChannel Geometry
1,000,000

500,000

200,000

100,000

50,000

20,000

10,000

5,000

2,000

1,000

500

200

100

1,000,000

 'l > i | i i i i ' ' ' ' | i i ' 111' i > |' i |' 

A. 7-DAY HIGH-FLOW FREQUENCY

log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution 

(pre-1964)

- - - - log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution 

(1965-93)

+ pre-1964 data 

0 1965-93 data

? 500,000 1 B. 30-DAY HIGH-FLOW FREQUENCY

200,000

100,000

50,000

20,000

10,000

5,000

2,000

1,000

500

200

100

log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution 

(pre-1964)

- - - - log-Pearson Type-Ill distribution 

(1965-93)

+ pre-1964 data 

0 1965-93 data

99 98 95 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 

ANNUAL EXCEEDANCE PROBABILITY, IN PERCENT

1 0.5

Figure 4. (A) 7-day and (B) 30-day high-flow frequency curves for Neosho River 

near Parsons, Kansas (07183500).

tude as the 2-year flood recurrence interval and because 

it generally reflects high to moderate discharges.

The stage-discharge relation tables throughout 

the period of record for each station were used to determine the stream stage (height of water surface above a 

datum) of each of the selected discharges. The time 

variable associated with each stage is the year, month, 

and day in which the stage-discharge relation was put 

into effect; therefore, there is not a separate stage

associated with each year but only a stage associated 

with each stage-discharge relation.

The test used to determine the presence of trends 

commonly is referred to as Kendall's tau trend test 

(Kendall, 1938; 1975). It is a nonparametric test that, in 

application, tests the null hypothesis that the data are 

random observations that are identically distributed 

and not time dependent; no assumption is made about 

the identity or form of the underlying distribution.

6 Changes in High-Flow Frequency and Channel Geometry of the Neosho River Downstream From John Redmond Dam, 

Southeastern Kansas
Table 2. Pre- and post-dam comparisons of high-flow frequency estimates for the Neosho River at Strawn 

(07182400) and at Burlington, Kansas (07182510)

Discharge, in cubic feet per second

Exceedance

probability

(percent)

2.0

50.0

95.0

Standard

deviation of

logs

Pre-dam

(Strawn)

102,377

8,306

1,099

.533

7-day high flow

Post-dam

(Burlington)

13,501

10,813

4,266

.173

30-day high flow

Percentage

differences

-87

+30

+288

-68

Pre-dam

(Strawn)

37,491

3,768

321

.580

Post-dam

(Burlington)

13,266

7,005

2,064

.249

Percentage

differences

-65

+86

+540

-57

Table 3. Pre- and post-dam comparisons of high-flow frequency estimates for the Neosho River near lola, 

Kansas(007183000)

Discharge, in cubic feet per second

Exceedance 

probability 

(percent)

2.0

50.0

95.0

Standard

deviation of

logs

7-day high flow

Pre-dam

86,400

11,800

1,890

.456

Post-dam

18,700

13,000

5,290

.176

Percentage 

differences

-78

+10

+180

-61

30-day high flow

Pre-dam

37,800

5,130

746

.472

Post-dam

14,700

9,070

2,890

.225

Percentage 

differences

-61

+77

+287

-52

Table 4. Pre- and post-dam comparisons of high-flow frequency estimates for the Neosho River near Parsons, 

Kansas (07183500)

Discharge, in cubic feet per second

Exceedance 

probability 

(percent)

2.0

50.0

95.0

Standard

deviation of

logs

7-day high flow

Pre-dam

82,441

19,201

3,351

.397

Post-dam

47,531

20,635

6,988

.241

Percentage 

differences

-42

+7

+108

-39

30-day high flow

Pre-dam

45,182

8,926

1,329

.436

Post-dam

22,598

12,684

3,590

.251

Percentage 

differences

-50

+42

+170

-42

Channel Geometry
1,000,000

100,000

10,000

1,000

100

10

1

0.1

1,000,000

100,000

10,000

1,000

100

10

1

0.1

1,000,000

100,000

10,000

1,000

100

10

1

0.1

(1) NEOSHO RIVER AT STRAWN, KS (07182400)

(2) NEOSHO RIVER AT BURLINGTON, KS (07182510)

 1965 through 1993 

at Burlington, KS

---- 1949 through 1963 

at Strawn, KS

ml II iiiMiiliinl , I I,,,,|,,.,.MII|..II|IIII|I,II|IIII|IIM|,III|I,,, I ,,,! , I III, I lu.i I I I n L.

(3) NEOSHO RIVER NEAR IOLA, KS (07183000)

E ' '"""I ' ' ' """| ""| ' ' | llll|lirllllll|llll|llll|llll|llll|Illl|llll|lll I | 111 | I . |IIM|IIIIII , , , ....

(4) NEOSHO RIVER NEAR PARSONS, KS (07183500)

0.01 0.1 125 10 20304050607080 90 95 9899 99.9 99.99 

PERCENTAGE OF TIME DISCHARGE WAS EQUALED OR EXCEEDED

Figure 5. Flow-duration curves for U.S. Geological Survey streamflowgaging stations downstream from John Redmond Dam. Location of 

stations shown in figure 1.

8 Changes in High-Flow Frequency and Channel Geometry of the Neosho River Downstream From John Redmond Dam, 

Southeastern Kansas
CHEYENNE -|RAWLINS ]DEcSrUn NORTON HILLIPS SMITH IJEWELL REPUBLIC WASHINGGREELEY |wiCHITA]icOT^/ANE 5) :___

_ __ McPHERSO 

i RICE

HAMILTON|KEARNEY, FINNEY

STANTON (GRANT IHASKEL!

JMORTON STEVENS REWARD ___[BARBER L___ISUMNER

Base from Kansas Geological Survey digital data, 1:24,000,1992

Lambert Conformal Conic projection T~*n-« A».T ATT^^T

Standard parallels 33° and 45° EXPLANATION

[::TV:.::--:,| Neosho River Basin in Kansas 

^ Boundary of climatic regions:

® Northwest (6) East central 

@ North central @ Southwest 

(§) Northeast ® South central 

(4) West central @ Southeast 

© Central

Figure 6. National Weather Service climatic regions for Kansas.

0 20 40 60 MILES 

I i H r1 ' 

0 20 40 60 KILOMETERS

Under the null hypothesis, tau values significantly 

different from zero are not expected, and their 

occurrence casts doubt on the truth of the null hypothesis. The test consists of comparing the observed value 

of tau for the sample with a critical value from the theoretical distribution for tau. If the absolute value of tau 

for the sample is greater than the critical value, the null 

hypothesis is rejected; that is, the observed value of tau 

is too great to have been obtained plausibly by random 

sampling from a single distribution without time 

trends. If the observed absolute value of tau does not 

exceed the critical value, the sample does not provide a 

basis for rejecting the null hypothesis.

The probability that tau will exceed the critical 

value when the null hypothesis is true is called the significance level (alpha) of the test; thus, the significance 

level is the probability of erroneously rejecting a true 

null hypothesis. High significance is associated with 

small values of alpha. In this study, an alpha value of

0.01 was used, representing a 1-percent probability of 

erroneously rejecting the null hypothesis. The attained 

significance level for a particular test, or p value, indicates the strength of the test result when compared with 

the alpha value.

Results from the trend tests on the forcing variables are summarized in table 5. Forcing-variable data 

are graphically illustrated in figures 7-9. No apparent 

trend was present in any of the variables tested. The tau 

values were below the critical value, and the p values 

were all larger than the alpha value, which indicates 

that there is no evidence to reject the null hypothesis. 

These results indicate no climatological change causing changes in the stage-discharge relations at the 

streamflow-gaging stations investigated in this report.

The results of the trend tests on the stage data are 

summarized in table 6, and plots of the stage data are 

presented in figure 10. There was little or no trend in 

the stages associated with the mean annual discharges

Channel Geometry
Table 5. Trend analysis of forcing variables tested in the Neosho River Basin downstream from John 

Redmond Dam

[precipitation data from the National Weather Service]

Variable tested

Period Number of 

(water years) years in test tau p value

Climatic region 6, east-central Kansas 

Climatic region 9, southeast Kansas

Annual precipitation 

1895-1994 100 

1895-1994 100 

Annual mean discharge

+0.04 

+.11

0.51 

.10

at Burlington, Kansas (07182510) 

Post-dam

near lola, Kansas (07183000) 

Pre-dam

Post dam

near Parsons, Kansas (07183500)

Pre-dam

Post-dam

at Burlington, Kansas (07182510) 

Post-dam

near lola, Kansas (07183000) 

Pre-dam

Post-dam

near Parsons, Kansas (07183500)

Pre-dam

Post-dam

1965-93

1918-64

1965-93

1922-64

1965-93

Annual peak discharge

1965-93

1918-64

1965-93

1922-64

1965-93

28

54

29

43

29

29

58

29

43

28

-.08

+.07

+.05

0

+.11

-.05

-.10

+.18

-.01

+.24

.55

.42

.68

.99

.39

.68

.27

.16

.92

.07

at all three stations downstream from John Redmond 

Dam. This probably is because the preferred location 

for gaging stations is where there will be stable control 

for low to medium discharges, which means that there 

is little chance that the channel will scour or degrade at 

medium to low stages. The median annual peak-discharge stages did show trends at Burlington and lola. 

There is a relatively large negative trend just downstream from the dam at Burlington (-0.104 ft/yr). Farther downstream, at the lola gaging station, the trend is 

not as large (-0.046 ft/yr), and at the Parsons gaging 

station, there was no evidence of a trend in the median 

annual peak stages.

Because the stages are declining at the higher 

discharges and not at the lower discharges, it can be 

assumed that the channel is either widening rather than 

deepening or the flow velocity has increased. Also, the 

results of the trend tests show that there is a decrease in 

the magnitudes of the trends as the distance downstream from the dam increases and less proportion of 

the drainage area is regulated by the dam.

Factors that could be affecting the scouring of 

the upper part of the channel cross section are the 

procedures used for reservoir releases, increased construction of levees downstream from the dam, channelization of sections of the river, and changes in land use 

along the flood plain. All of these factors can change 

the average velocity of the streamflow and(or) change 

the duration of higher streamflows, which generally 

will change the amount of scour or deposition.

Although these data indicate that some scouring 

is occurring at two of the streamflow-gaging stations, it 

is only a starting point in determining the amount of 

channel change in the Neosho River channel. A more 

definitive analysis of channel-geometry changes could 

be accomplished with surveys of channel cross 

sections.

10 Changes in High-Flow Frequency and Channel Geometry of the Neosho River Downstream From John Redmond Dam, 

Southeastern Kansas
60

55

50

45

40

35

on 30

25

C 20

A. REGION 6, EAST-CENTRAL KANSAS

ou

55

50

45

40

35

30

25 

21°8

i B. REGION 9, SOUTHEAST KANSAS '-

-

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CALENDAR YEAR

Figure 7. Total annual precipitation for climatic regions (A) 6 and (B) 9 in Kansas (data from National Weather Service).

SUMMARY

A description of the effects of John Redmond 

Dam on the high-flow frequency and channel geometry 

of the Neosho River downstream from the dam is 

presented in this report. Long-term data from four

U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations 

were used to calculate 7-day and 30-day high-flow frequencies and to determine the river stages for the 

annual mean discharges and the median annual peak

Summary 11
12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

(1) NEOSHO RIVER AT STRAWN, KS (07182400)

(2) NEOSHO RIVER AT BURLINGTON, KS (07182510)

| Neosho River at Strawn, KS 

(1949-63)

0 Neosho River at Burlington, KS 

(1963-93)

12,000

10,000

o 8,000 

m

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- 6,000

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3 2,000

(3) NEOSHO RIVER NEAR IOLA, KS (07183000)

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12,000

10,000

8,000 -

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4,000 -

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1910

(4) NEOSHO RIVER NEAR PARSONS, KS (07183500)

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1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 

WATER YEAR

Figure 8. Mean annual discharges at U.S. Geological Survey streamflowgaging stations downstream from John Redmond Dam. Location of gaging 

stations shown in figure 1.

12 Changes in High-Flow Frequency and Channel Geometry of the Neosho River Downstream From John Redmond Dam, 

Southeastern Kansas
500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

1 I ' ' ' ' I ' ' ' ' I ' ' ' ' I ' ' ' i ' ' ' ' I ' ' ' ' I ' ' ' ' I ' ' ' ' I ' ' ' ' i ' ' ' ' i

(1) NEOSHO RIVER AT STRAWN, KS (07182400) 1885-1963

(2) NEOSHO RIVER AT BURLINGTON, KS (07182510) 1963-93

Neosho River at Strawn, KS 

Neosho River at Burlington, KS

-, uuu,uuu

0 

0

LU

DC

£ 400,000

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§ 300,000

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< 100,000

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\ (3) NEOSHO RIVER NEAR IOLA, KS (07183000) '_

.

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1 i ' ' ' ' i ' ' ' ' i ' ' ' ' i ' ' ' ' i ' ' ' ' i ' ' ' ' i ' ' ' ' i ' ' ' ' i 

(4) NEOSHO RIVER NEAR PARSONS, KS (07183500)

if

1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

WATER YEAR

Figure 9. Annual peak discharges for U.S. Geological Survey streamflowgaging stations downstream from John Redmond Dam. Location of gaging 

stations shown in figure 1.

Summary 13
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14 Changes in High-Flow Frequency and Channel Geometry of the Neosho River Downstream From John Redmond Dam, 

Southeastern Kansas
12

11

10

25

24

23

22

21

20

19

I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I i I I | I 

A. STAGES FOR MEAN ANNUAL DISCHARGES

p Neosho River at Burlington, KS (07182510)

A Neosho River near lola, KS (07183000)

 Neosho River near Parsons, KS (07183500)

 w * '

DD

A A A A A

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I | I I I I |

B. STAGES FOR MEDIAN ANNUAL PEAK DISCHARGES

AAA A/A A AYv

A A AAAA

A A

p Neosho River at Burlington, KS (07182510)

A Neosho River near lola, KS (07183000)

 Neosho River near Parsons, KS (07183500)

AA A ^fc

A

A AA

PPP p p

A A

p P

P Pp

p P

p p PP 

p

1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995

WATER YEAR

Figure 10. Stages for (A) mean annual discharges and (B) median annual peak discharges at U.S. Geological Survey 

streamflow-gaging stations downstream from John Redmond Dam. Location of gaging stations shown in figure 1.

Summary 15
discharges for each streamflow-gaging station for the 

periods before and after completion of the dam.

High-flow frequency and flow-duration results 

show that there has been a change in high-flow 

frequencies since completion of John Redmond Dam. 

Discharge magnitudes during periods of low flow have 

increased, and both the magnitude and frequency of 

high flows have decreased.

A Kendall's tau test for trend was applied to the 

forcing variables ( precipitation, annual mean streamflow, and annual peak discharge) at each of the streamflow-gaging stations. These forcing variables, except 

for precipitation, were only tested to determine if there 

were trends within the pre- and post-dam periods. Precipitation was tested to determine any climatic trends. 

The results of the trend test indicate that there is no significant trend in the data and, therefore, there is no evidence of climatic effects on the changes found in the 

high-flow frequencies. Kendall's tau trend test also was 

used to test for trends in the river stages for the annual 

mean discharges and the median annual peak discharges at each of the streamflow-gaging stations. The 

results of the test indicate that there is a downward 

trend at the two streamflow-gaging stations closest to 

the dam and that the magnitudes of the trends decrease 

as the distance downstream from the dam increases.

REFERENCES CITED

Department of the Army, Tulsa District Corps of Engineers, 

1984, John Redmond Dam and Reservoir, Kansas: U.S. 

Government Printing Office, pamphlet.

Kansas Water Resources Board, 1961, State water plan studies, Part A, Preliminary appraisal of Kansas water problems, Section 7, Neosho Unit: Topeka, Kansas, 135 p.

Kendall, M.G., 1938, A new measure of rank correlation: 

Biometrika, v. 30, p. 81-93.

 1975, Rank correlation methods: Charles Griffin, 

London.

Wahl, K.L., and Wahl, T.L., 1988, Effects of regional

ground-water level declines on streamflow in the Oklahoma Panhandle: American Water Resources Association Proceeding of Symposium on Water-Use Data for 

Water Resources Management, August 1988, Tuscon, 

Arizona, p. 239-249.

Wahl, K.L., and Weiss, L.S., 1995, Channel degradation in 

southeastern Nebraska rivers: American Society of 

Civil Engineers Proceedings of Symposium on Watershed Management, First International Conference on 

Water Resources Engineering, August 14-16, 1995, 

San Antonio, Texas, p. 255.

Williams, G.P., and Wolman, M.G., 1984, Downstream

effects of dams on alluvial rivers: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1286, 83 p.

16 Changes in High-Flow Frequency and Channel Geometry of the Neosho River Downstream From John Redmond Dam, 

Southeastern Kansas