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Milford Lake

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By Kansas Water Science Center September 18, 2017

The USGS Kansas Water Science Center, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), has been studying the extreme cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABS) occurring annually in Milford Lake. CyanoHABs on Milford Lake have impacted local businesses economically, and there have been documented human illnesses and animal deaths associated with the blooms. Additionally, Milford Lake discharges into the Kansas River, which is a drinking water source for more than 800,000 Kansans.

Since 2011, the USGS has been employing a number of methods to study and understand the cyanoHABs occurring on or related to Milford Lake. These methods include discrete sampling of toxins, phytoplankton, and chlorophyll; continuous water-quality sensors; and time-lapse photography. In 2017, USGS shifted focus onto understanding the nutrient dynamics of Milford Lake, which are likely a main driver of cyanoHABs there. A real-time water quality monitor at Milford Lake near Wakefield (USGS station #391259097001800) is operated annually from mid-May to November. 

 

Below are publications associated with this project.

Water-quality constituent concentrations and loads computed using real-time water-quality data for the Republican River, Clay Center, Kansas, August 2018 through July 2023

Milford Lake, the largest reservoir by surface area in Kansas, has had confirmed harmful algal blooms every summer since reporting began in 2011, except 2018–19. Milford Lake has been listed as impaired and designated hypereutrophic under section 303(d) of the 1972 Clean Water Act. In 2014, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment established a total maximum daily load for eutrophication an
Authors
Ariele R. Kramer, Justin R. Abel
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center

Spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and algae in the Republican River and Milford Lake, Kansas, June through November 2017 and May through November 2018

Milford Lake has been listed as impaired and designated hypereutrophic because of excessive nutrient loading, specifically biologically available orthophosphate. It is the largest lake by surface area in Kansas and is a reservoir built for purposes including water supply and recreation. In 2015, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) divided the lake into three zones (Zones A, B, a
Authors
Brianna M. Leiker, Justin R. Abel, Jennifer L. Graham, Guy M. Foster, Lindsey R. King, Tom C. Stiles, Riley P. Buley
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center

Spatial and temporal variability of harmful algal blooms in Milford Lake, Kansas, May through November 2016

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), completed a study to quantify the spatial and temporal variability of cyanobacterial blooms in Milford Lake, Kansas, over a range of environmental conditions at various time scales (hours to months). A better understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of cyanobacteria and microcystin
Authors
Guy M. Foster, Jennifer L. Graham, Lindsey R. King
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center

Spatial variability of harmful algal blooms in Milford Lake, Kansas, July and August 2015

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) tend to be spatially variable vertically in the water column and horizontally across the lake surface because of in-lake and weather-driven processes and can vary by orders of magnitude in concentration across relatively short distances (meters or less). Extreme spatial variability in cyanobacteria and associated compounds poses unique challenges to
Authors
Guy M. Foster, Jennifer L. Graham, Tom C. Stiles, Marvin G. Boyer, Lindsey R. King, Keith A. Loftin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center

Fate and transport of cyanobacteria and associated toxins and taste-and-odor compounds from upstream reservoir releases in the Kansas River, Kansas, September and October 2011

Cyanobacteria cause a multitude of water-quality concerns, including the potential to produce toxins and taste-and-odor compounds. Toxins and taste-and-odor compounds may cause substantial economic and public health concerns and are of particular interest in lakes, reservoirs, and rivers that are used for drinking-water supply, recreation, or aquaculture. The Kansas River is a primary source of dr
Authors
Jennifer L. Graham, Andrew C. Ziegler, Brian L. Loving, Keith A. Loftin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center

Below are partners associated with this project.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

The USGS Kansas Water Science Center, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), has been studying the extreme cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABS) occurring annually in Milford Lake. CyanoHABs on Milford Lake have impacted local businesses economically, and there have been documented human illnesses and animal deaths associated with the blooms. Additionally, Milford Lake discharges into the Kansas River, which is a drinking water source for more than 800,000 Kansans.

Since 2011, the USGS has been employing a number of methods to study and understand the cyanoHABs occurring on or related to Milford Lake. These methods include discrete sampling of toxins, phytoplankton, and chlorophyll; continuous water-quality sensors; and time-lapse photography. In 2017, USGS shifted focus onto understanding the nutrient dynamics of Milford Lake, which are likely a main driver of cyanoHABs there. A real-time water quality monitor at Milford Lake near Wakefield (USGS station #391259097001800) is operated annually from mid-May to November. 

 

Below are publications associated with this project.

Water-quality constituent concentrations and loads computed using real-time water-quality data for the Republican River, Clay Center, Kansas, August 2018 through July 2023

Milford Lake, the largest reservoir by surface area in Kansas, has had confirmed harmful algal blooms every summer since reporting began in 2011, except 2018–19. Milford Lake has been listed as impaired and designated hypereutrophic under section 303(d) of the 1972 Clean Water Act. In 2014, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment established a total maximum daily load for eutrophication an
Authors
Ariele R. Kramer, Justin R. Abel
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center

Spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and algae in the Republican River and Milford Lake, Kansas, June through November 2017 and May through November 2018

Milford Lake has been listed as impaired and designated hypereutrophic because of excessive nutrient loading, specifically biologically available orthophosphate. It is the largest lake by surface area in Kansas and is a reservoir built for purposes including water supply and recreation. In 2015, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) divided the lake into three zones (Zones A, B, a
Authors
Brianna M. Leiker, Justin R. Abel, Jennifer L. Graham, Guy M. Foster, Lindsey R. King, Tom C. Stiles, Riley P. Buley
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center

Spatial and temporal variability of harmful algal blooms in Milford Lake, Kansas, May through November 2016

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), completed a study to quantify the spatial and temporal variability of cyanobacterial blooms in Milford Lake, Kansas, over a range of environmental conditions at various time scales (hours to months). A better understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of cyanobacteria and microcystin
Authors
Guy M. Foster, Jennifer L. Graham, Lindsey R. King
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center

Spatial variability of harmful algal blooms in Milford Lake, Kansas, July and August 2015

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) tend to be spatially variable vertically in the water column and horizontally across the lake surface because of in-lake and weather-driven processes and can vary by orders of magnitude in concentration across relatively short distances (meters or less). Extreme spatial variability in cyanobacteria and associated compounds poses unique challenges to
Authors
Guy M. Foster, Jennifer L. Graham, Tom C. Stiles, Marvin G. Boyer, Lindsey R. King, Keith A. Loftin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center

Fate and transport of cyanobacteria and associated toxins and taste-and-odor compounds from upstream reservoir releases in the Kansas River, Kansas, September and October 2011

Cyanobacteria cause a multitude of water-quality concerns, including the potential to produce toxins and taste-and-odor compounds. Toxins and taste-and-odor compounds may cause substantial economic and public health concerns and are of particular interest in lakes, reservoirs, and rivers that are used for drinking-water supply, recreation, or aquaculture. The Kansas River is a primary source of dr
Authors
Jennifer L. Graham, Andrew C. Ziegler, Brian L. Loving, Keith A. Loftin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center

Below are partners associated with this project.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

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