1-vi. NATURAL RESOURCES
The perception of Kansas to large numbers of people is one of a large, flat,
featureless area with wheat fields and cattle. This description may fit large parts of the
State but is not the total picture for SCKEDD’s fourteen county area. The eastern border
counties are the farthest western portions of the Ozarks. This area is known as the Flint
Hills. The land changes to flat agricultural land by the mid-point of the District.
Land Use
The majority of the land is used for farming and ranching with small amounts of
mining. Water resources have historically been scarce in the region. In Kansas there are
no naturally formed lakes, they are all man-made. These lakes serve as a primary source
of drinking water and recreational needs. Water supply lakes include Cheney (Sedgwick
County), El Dorado (Butler County), Murray Gill Lake, (Chautauqua County) and
Marion (Marion County).
There are four river basins in the south central Kansas area: Lower Arkansas,
Walnut, Verdigris, and Neosho.
In Kansas, the High Plains Aquifer is made up of several smaller sub-regional
aquifers: the Ogallala, Great Bend Prairie and Equus Beds. The Equus Beds are a source
of water for South Central Kansas and are regulated by the Equus Beds Ground Water
Management District #2. The Beds cover 1,406 square miles, (878,720 acres) and are
located under Harvey, McPherson, Reno and Sedgwick Counties. The Equus Beds serve
a population of 550,000 and irrigation needs of the farming community. *
Mineral and Renewable Resources
Mineral – Natural gas and oil are the leading minerals produced in the area. All fourteen
counties produce oil and twelve of them have natural gas production. Within the State of
Kansas natural gas production peaked in 1970, and petroleum production peaked in 1956
(2000 Kansas Energy Report, Timothy R. Carr and Scott W. White). Kansas’ peak
production periods at SCKEDD are about the same.
Oil production has been on a steady decline until 2010. The vertical drilling
method has been the primary method used. Horizontal drilling has, combined with recent
improvements in fracking technology, opening up tremendous potential in the Mississippi
Lime formation. This formation and the previous 50 years of drilling in the area have
made the estimated costs to drill a well at $2.9 to 3.5 million, compared to $8 to $11
million to drill in the Bakken.
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Existing infrastructure in already in place,
Oil producing strata is relatively shallow at 3,000-6,000 feet deep (Bakken
wells are about twice as deep),
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Less pressure is required to fracture carbonate rocks than shale,
The Mississippi is close to Cushing in Oklahoma, the largest oil storage
facility in the U.S.,
Pre-existing vertical wells can be utilized for laterals to ramp up
production from formerly “depleted wells”.
The Mississippi Lime Field extends from northern central Oklahoma in a
northwest direction through Kansas nearly to the Nebraska border. At present, the
heaviest activity is in the Harper and Sumner Counties along the Kansas/Oklahoma
border. Activity at county courthouses has started at the northern edge of the field. The
following counties will be impacted by the new oil drilling: Cowley, Harper, Kingman,
Reno, Rice, Sedgwick and Sumner.
Harper County has already seen a 143,684 bbls increase in oil production from
2010 to 2011. They are also suffering the problems of a large influx of workers to the
area: increase in housing costs, strains on infrastructure (roads, water and electricity),
labor shortage, etc. The increase in oil and gas production is expected to have a positive
impact upon state and local tax revenues.
TransCanada’s Keystone Pipeline passes through North Dakota, South Dakota,
Nebraska and Kansas to the community of Cushing Oklahoma. The portion in Kansas is
known as Keystone Cushing Pipeline and starts at Steele City, Nebraska and travels
straight south going through SCKEDD’s counties of Marion, Butler and Cowley. In
Nebraska the completed pipeline has increased its assessed valuation from $145.2 million
to $538.5 million. If this same pattern is followed in Kansas, the three counties will see a
dramatic increase in their tax base.
Today’s additions to baseload electric generation capacity are overwhelmingly
combined-cycle or combustion turbine technology fueled by natural gas. Nationally,
natural gas fueled 98.9% of the 20,000 Mega Watts (MW) that came on line in 2000.
Through 2020, the U.S. is expected to require an additional 300 gigawatts of new
capacity. Of the new capacity, 90% is projected to be combined-cycle or combustion
turbine technology fueled by natural gas. The forecasted additional capacity translates to
construction of approximately 1,000 new gas fired plants and increased natural gas
production of almost 6 trillion cubic feet.
Prior to the introduction of fracking, Kansas was capable of producing 60% of the
energy it consumed. Twice as much natural gas was produced than consumed. All of the
uranium, most of the coal, and 40% of the petroleum consumed must be imported from
other states. The primary demand for petroleum products is in the industrial and
transportation sectors. Kansas presently is an exporter of natural gas, and an importer of
all other energy needs.
As the economies of the SCKEDD area, Kansas, and the Nation continue to grow,
they will continue to put increased demand upon the wellhead value of oil and gas. The
increased demand has had a positive impact upon state and local tax revenues, and will be
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felt in SCKEDD’s oil and gas producing counties. However, this positive impact may be
balanced by potentially serious effect of increased energy costs and potential spot
shortages on the Kansas agricultural, chemicals industry, and general consumer economy.
SCKEDD has within its area two of the three salt mines in the State. Rock salt
was first discovered in Kansas in 1887. It was found while exploring for gas and oil.
Our areas two active mining companies are in the cities of Lyons (Rice County) and
Hutchinson (Reno County). The salt in this area is 200 feet thick. There are five solution
mine fields in Kansas all in south central Kansas. Three of the closed mines were located
in Rice County (2) and Kingman County (1). To the west of Hutchinson is an extensive
salt bed (Nippewalla Group) that has not been commercially developed.
Other principal minerals of the area, see supporting documents.* clay (1
county), crushed stone (7 counties), dimension limestone (1 county), sand and gravel (6
counties) and sulfur (1 county). .
Renewable Energy: SCKEDD’s area contains two active ethanol plants that are
licensed to produce a total of 85 million gallons per year. A third plant (100 MGY) is
under construction.
Wind energy is developing in the SCKEDD region both in terms of production of
electricity and a wind manufacturing cluster. Wind farms have or are being built in three
of SCKEDD’s counties. The Elk River Wind Farm (150 MW) is operating and located in
Butler County. The Flat Ridge II (419 MW- Harper Co.) and Caney River (200 MW –
Elk Co.) are under construction. Governor Brownback strongly supports wind energy
and has set a goal of Kansas being a leading wind energy producer.
SCKEDD and economic developers in Butler and Reno counties are working with
an energy company that is developing vertically integrated biomass projects focused on
renewable energy production, biobased products, and specialty chemicals. They will use
the miscanthus plant. The plant grows from rhizomes that are planted once and lasts for
15 to 20 years. Anything that you can make with wood you can make with miscanthus.
The equipment to plant and harvest the miscanthus is being produced in Reno County as
well as the initial propagation field. *
Climate
The climate in South Central Kansas is characterized by four seasons. However,
extreme changes in weather are not uncommon. Rainfall is highly variable throughout all
the counties. The average annual rainfall of the District ranges from 27.68” in Rice
County to 38.62” in Chautauqua County. The overall regional average is 32.28” per year.
Ordinarily, 71% of the annual precipitation falls during the six-month growing period
from April through September. The District is subject to both high intensity storms of
short duration and extended periods of below normal rainfall. *
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The annual average temperature, computed over 24-hour days, ranges from 54.1˚
to 58.2˚. The hottest month is August and in a 24 hour day averages 77.4˚ to 80.8˚. The
coldest month is January with average temperatures from 26.9˚ to 33.3˚. *
Water Resources
Water pollution is a problem in this District and is being addressed by the
concerted efforts of both the State Health Department and effective local leadership.13
The principal sources of surface and ground water pollution in the area are natural
salt formations, oil field brines and municipal and industrial wastes. The salt formations
that underlie much of the area are subject to natural leaching by precipitation. Some of
the precipitation that penetrates the salt formations conveys the salts to ground water
aquifers, and surface runoff leaving the area may carry a high chloride load into streams.
This once was a very serious problem in the Arkansas River, but conditions have
improved somewhat due to changes in the disposal of salt mine waste. Improper disposal
of oil field brines also once was a very serious problem throughout most of the region,
but this source of pollution is now under control. An improvement in industrial and
municipal waste disposal has provided a substantial degree of pollution control.
Nitrates in the ground water are an increasing problem. They are coming from
the additives used on farm land. The problem is being addressed by local governments
and ground water districts working with area farmers.
Soils
The soils here were formed by weathering Dakota sandstone and the weathering
of outwash limestone and shale in the north-central part while residual Permian Redbud
material is found to the south. There are a few areas of sand dune materials found in
Reno and Rice counties. The topsoils are silt loams, silty clay loams, and sandy loams.
They range in color from nearly black and reddish and gray browns, and are generally
well suited for cash crops and/or pasturing.
The broad soil types are shown on the accompanying map, page 87, and include
the following:
Sogn, Summit, Florence, Idana: Mostly thin, rocky soils good for bluestem and
associated grasses. Many pastures have been overgrazed. Getting enough
cultivated land to go with pasture is a problem that has caused too much land
suitable only for grasses to be cultivated.
Crete, Ladysmith, Kipp, Idana: Fine textured, claypan soils well adapted to wheat
may be cropped to sorghum if care is taken to prevent erosion—which is a serious
hazard. *
State Water Plan Studies; Part A, Preliminary Appraisal Of Kansas Water Problems. Section 4, “Lower
Arkansas Unit”, and Section 5, “Walnut-Verdigris Unit”, Kansas Resources Board, 1960.
13
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Summit, Woodson, Labette, Bates: General farming prevails on these acid,
residual soils that tend to lack phosphorus. Erosion, poor pasture management,
and low fertility are the chief problems of this area.
Darnell, Stephenville, Dennis, Boone: The more nearly level areas of these sandy
residual soils may respond to good management, fertilizer, and lime. Although
some areas are adapted to crops, in general, this area is more suitable for grazing
than for cultivation.
Idana, Renfrow, Kipson: The dark clay and claypan, residual soils of this area are
well adapted to wheat if care is taken to prevent erosion and if fertilizers are
supplied.
Grant, Albion, Vernon, Renfrow: Soils of this area developed from old sandy
outwash materials which overlie clay and pack sand, resulting in sandy and clayey
soils. More level areas adapted to wheat productions.
Lancaster, Hedville, Longford: Soils of this area are naturally infertile. Where
suitable for cultivation, they respond well to food management, liming, and
fertilizing. Many thin soils and steep slopes are best adapted to pasture.
Crete, Goessel: These nearly level claypan soils have slow permeability which
adapts them best to wheat. In years of adequate moisture, grain sorghums do
well.
Pratt, Albion, Derby: These sandy loam soils are adapted to wheat, sorghum, and
alfalfa. Their permeable nature and high water table provide good moisture
relations for crops, pastures, and shelterbelts.
Vernon, Quinlan, Albion: This area has many limited cultivated acreages.
Pastures contain mid and short grasses where canyons and gully walls are not too
steep.
Alluvial soils of the flood plains and terraces: These water-deposited soils are
generally highly productive, except where poorly drained. In eastern Kansas
much of this area is devoted to corn and alfalfa. With irrigation, intensive
vegetable and fruit production is possible on most of these soils. *
Source: “Major Soils of Kansas,” Agriculture Experiment Station, Kansas State College
of Agriculture and Applied Science, #336, July, 1956.
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Location
The geographic location of the State of Kansas and the District being in the center
of the Nation has made/makes the District a prime location for distribution and
communication centers. They are new clusters to the area, and are part of the six
industries targeted by the State of Kansas.
*(See Supporting Documents Figures 1-11).
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