The Cimarron River enters Kansas from Colorado in Morton County. After leaving the state in Meade County, the river re-enters 30 miles east in Clark County and then leaves the state for the last time 24 miles east in Comanche County. Principal tributaries of the Cimarron River in Kansas are the North Fork Cimarron, Crooked Creek, Bluff Creek and on occasions of high runoff, Bear Creek. The climate of the basin is characterized by moderate to low precipitation, relatively high wind velocities, fairly rapid rates of evaporation, a wide range of temperatures and abrupt, sometimes violent changes in weather. The economy of the basin is very dependent on agriculture.
Crops grown include wheat, com, grain sorghum, soybeans, forage sorghum and alfalfa.
Livestock production is an important phase of the area agriculture. Beef cattle are the predominant livestock produced in the basin. Large cattle feeding operations are common. Beef processing is also a major economic factor in the basin. Irrigation is widespread and extremely important to the area economy.