Table of Contents

Introduction     Hydrology     Soils     Vegetation     Policy     References

Introduction

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge is just eight miles south of I-35 in eastern Kansas. Kansas Highway 130 goes directly from I-35 to the town of Hartford, KS and the refuge is located just outside of Hartford. The refuge lies in the broad, flat Neosho River Valley. Historically this region was a native tallgrass prairie region and contains biologically significant habitats of the Neosho watershed within Kansas. It is located within the Neosho River and Eagle Creek flood pool of John Redmond Reservoir. The refuge was established in 1966 and has 4,572 acres of wetlands. The wetlands depend on the reservoir flood pool, precipitation, and pumping as their water sources. Currently wildlife observation, hiking, photography, sight-seeing, boating, picnicking, camping, fishing, wild food gathering, and hunting are permitted on the refuge.
Hillsdale wetlands are adjacent to Hillsdale Lake located north of Paola, KS, and just west of Hillsdale, KS, off of Highway 68. The lake is fed by the Big Bull and Little Bull Creeks. The wetlands lie just south of the Hillsdale Lake dam and are managed by the Kansas Department to Wildlife and Parks. There are approximately 25 acres of wetlands that were constructed in 1983. Wildlife observation and model plane flying are permitted in and around the wetlands. Hunting is not permitted.

Retrun to the top.

---

Hydrology

The Hillsdale wetlands and the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge wetlands both can be found along latitude 38 degrees. Even though they share this commonality, they vary greatly in size. The drainage area for the gauging stations near each wetland also are drastically different in size. The Hillsdale Lake gauging station has a drainage area of only 144 square miles. The gauging station closest to Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge, the Neosho River at Strawn, KS guaging station, has a drainage area of 2,933 square miles. This is more than 20 times that of Hillsdale.

Below are maps of the locations of each guaging station.

Neosho River at Strawn, KS guaging station:




Image taken from USGS website.

Hillsdale gauging station:




Image taken from USGS website.

Annual Mean Stream Flow and Monthly Mean Stream Flow are both available for each site.

Hillsdale Annual Mean Stream Flow

Year	Cubic feet per second
1983	902
1987	907
1988	911
1989	913
1990	917
1991	916
1992	917
1993	919
1994	917
1995	917
1996	917
1997	917
1998	918
1999	917

New Strawn's Annual Mean Stream Flow

Year	Cubic feet per second
1949	1569
1950	1507
1951	5097
1952	876
1953	99.4
1954	80.1
1955	164
1956	54.7
1957	1012
1958	1472
1959	1324
1960	1626
1961	918
1962	917

Notice how the Strawn station showed its highest flow in 1951. This was probably due to the flood of 1951. It appears that the construction of the John Redmond Damn which began in June of 1959, the embankment was completed in September of 1963, and the damn was completed for full flood control operation by September of 1964 (USACE John Redmond)[May 1st, 2003], did not greatly alter the annual mean stream flow of Strawn. It is interesting to note that Strawn's flow is typically about 600-1000 cfs higher than Hillsdale's. This could cause the wetlands at Flint Hills to be moister or it may mean that there is more water available to the wetlands of Flint Hills than Hillsdale's wetlands. Hillsdale does not show a record of extremely high stream flow, even in 1993 when flooding occured throughout the state. This may be due to the damn itself and its regulatory capabilities.

Hillsdale Monthly Mean Stream Flow (cubic feet per second)

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1982					894	905	901	898	898	898	898	898
1983	899	899	898	909	910	907	907	906	901	898	897	893
1984	893	893	896	901	899		906	901	900	901	906
1985	911	913	918	917	917	921	917	917	917		920	916
1986		915	915	916	918	917	918	917	918	927	919	915
1987	907	907	910	907	906	906	907	906	906	905	905	906
1988	907	908	908	913	913	912	913	912	912	912	911	912
1989	912	912	912	913	913	914	914	913	913	913	915	915
1990	915	915	917	918	922	921	917	917	917	916	916	916
1991	916	916	916	916	917	918	917	916	915	914	914	914
1992	914	914	915	916	916	916	916	917	916	916	918	922
1993	918	917	916	918	921	918	923	923	921	924	918	916
1994	915	915	916	918	922	919	917	917	916	916	916	917
1995	915	915	915	916	923	925	918	917	916	916	915	915
1996	915	915	915	915	917	919	917	917	917	917	919	918
1997	915	916	917	918	918	918	917	916	916	916	916	918
1998	916	915	917	918	917	917	917	917	917	921	922	920
1999	916	916	915	917	921	919	917	916	916	917	916	917
2000	916	915	916	917	917	917	918	917	916
Mean of monthly stream flows	912	912	913	915	915	916	915	914	913	913	913	913

New Strawn's Monthy Mean Stream Flow (cubic feet per second)

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1948										129	152	125
1949	3361	5121	1194	1833	3431	1314	1380	286	188	678	153	137
1950	267	149	153	346	1023	2094	5494	6367	1165	441	200	179
1951	150	329	579	1149	7395	6630	32040	2202	7269	1341	979	499
1952	498	351	2912	3888	1629	605	160	206	68.3	38.7	71.7	88.2
1953	77.3	71.4	144	128	472	137	88.9	23.4	8.19	5.01	9.58	22.5
1954	20.8	25.4	33.6	28.3	166	631	12.7	33.7	0.7	12.5	1.43	1.18
1955	5.55	60.5	23.3	188	266	269	379	66.9	355	331	7.53	6.35
1956	9.62	19.9	9.87	169	335	15.4	2.39	92.4	0	0	0	0
1957	0	0	12.7	1084	5475	2886	690	66.6	342	542	731	245
1958	286	550	4039	1710	1353	1805	4380	770	1322	553	565	227
1959	266	483	416	1126	4426	813	3720	421	381	2816	436	426
1960	1039	1751	4802	1967	1160	1210	286	1271	970	2641	1257	1129
1961	377	1496	3801	3866	9717	1671	2183	448	3049	2320	4224	885
1962	2295	3247	1986	758	1537	4349	982	389	5966	1474	582	459
1963	589	377	1124	365	335	701
Mean of monthly stream flows	616	935	1414	1240	2581	1675	3700	903	1506	888	625	295

Hillsdale shows no seasonality in its flow. It is constant year round. Strawn does exhibit seasonality, with flow increasing beginning in March and decreasing about October. This may lead to Hillsdale's wetland being inundated year round while Flint Hill's wetlands may experience dry periods. These dry periods may allow Flint Hill's wetlands to increase in plant diversity, because there is a dry period where some plant growth may die back and other vegetation may take hold and increase in number.

Maps of the watersheds where each wetland is located are below.

Hillsdale's watershed:


Image taken fromKansas Geological Survey.

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge's watershed:


Image taken fromKansas Geological Survey.
Retrun to the top.

---

Soils

The tables below list some of the soils located within each of the two wetland regions. The Flinthills Refuge obviously contains a greater number of soils than the Hillsdale area since the overall size is much greater. Within the Flinthills Refuge 27 soils can be found and only 2 at the Hillsdale location.

Soils within the Hillsdale Wetland Area

Soil	Characteristics
Kenoma	Silt loam
	1 to 4% slope
	Moderately well drained and very slowly permeable on terraces and up lands.
Woodson	Silt loam
	0 to 2% slope
	Somewhat poorly drained and very slow permeability with slow surface runoff.
	Moderate amount of organic matter with a very dark surface.
	Subsoil is approximatley 33in thick.

The soils at Hillsdale Wetland site are used mainly for cultivated crops and grass pasture and for hay. The area is not used for dwellings or septic tanks due to the high shrink and swell capacity of the soils.

Soils within the Flinthills National Wildlife Refuge

Soil	Characteristics
Osage Silty Clay	Nearly level and located on floodplains
	Poorly drained with slow permeability and runoff
	Dark gray in color and approximately 13 inches thick
	Organic matter content is moderate with a high natural fertility
	Seasonal perched water table within 1 foot in winter and spring
	Uses: two-thirds of the area cultivated and the rest used for hayland
Chase Silty Clay	nearly level and located on stream terraces
	Moderately well drained with slow permeablitly and surface runof
	Dark gray in color and approximately 17 inches thick
	Moderate organic matter content
	High occurence of flooding
	Seasonal water table is within 1 to 3 feet of surface in spring
	Uses: crops and for windbreaks, poor building site and sanitary facilities
Kenoma Silt Loam	Gently sloping, with 1 to 3% slope
	Moderately well drained with slow permeablitly and surface runoff is medium
	Very dark grayish brown and approximately 11 inches think
	Uses: Cultivated crops and range and pasture
Osage Silty Clay Loam	Nearly level and located on flood plains
	Black silty clay about 12 inches thick
	Permeability is slow as well as runoff
	Naturally fertile area with moderate organic matter content
	Uses: Most of the area is used for culitvated crops, yet some is used for range and pastrue
Verdigris silt loam	Nearly level soil located on flood plains, with frequent flooding
	Very dark brown and about 7 inches thick
	Permeability is moderate and available water capacity is high
	Uses: Most areas are used for cultivated crops, not suitable for dwellings

The above table only shows a few of the 27 soils located at the Flinthills Wildlife Refuge. Compared to the Hillsdale site the soils located in this region contain a higher percent of organic matter content, this could be since it is an older wetland area. This region is also flooded more frequently that the Hillsdale area and much of the land is located on floodplains and terraces.



Retrun to the top.

---

Vegetation

The entire plant list (total 774 plants) was reduced down by listing only the obligate hydrophilic or wetland species. Many of the other 774 plants recorded could be present in the Refuge's wetlands however were not listed because a 100% confidence level could not be made. Still a sufficient amount of plants were obligate; the total number of species listed is 89 representing 19 different families. There are many different species of rushes and sedges listed here. Because they are emergent species the percent of plants in accordance with aquatic zone type is skewed towards the emergent zone; this does not reflect the abundance of each plant within the environment.

Plants within the Flinthills National Wildlife Refuge

Families	Species
Acanthraceae	Water Willow Justicia americana
Alismataceae	Smallflower Water Plantain Alisma subcordatum
	Erect Burhead Echinodorus berterol
	Creeping Burhead Echinodorus cordofolius
	Shortbeak Arrowhead Sapittaria brevirostra
	Common Arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia
Asclepiadaceae	Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
Cyperaceae	18 Sedges Carex spp.
	9 Flatsedges Cyperus spp.
	6 Spikesedges Eleocharis spp.
	13 Other Sedges/Rushes
Equistaceae	Smooth Scouring Rush Equisetum laevigatum
Fabaceae	False Indigo Amorpha fruticosa
Juncaceae	Dudley's Rush Juncus dudleyi
	Inland Rush Juncus interior
	Shore Rush Juncus marginatus
	Torrey's Rush Juncus torrey
Lamiaceae	American Bugleweed Lycopus americanus
	American Germander Teucrium canadense canadenses
	American Germander Teucrium canadense occidentale
Lemnaceae	Lesser Duckweed Lemna mior
	Minute Duckweed Lemna perpusilla
	Greater Duckweed Spirodela polyrrhiza
Lentibulariaceae	Common Bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
Nagadaceae	Southern Naiad Najas guadalupensis
Nelumbonaceae	American Lotus Nelumbo lutea
Onagraceae	Bush Seedbox Ludwigia alternaifolia
	Water Purslane Ludwigia palustris
	Marsh Seedbox Ludwigia peploides
Poaceae	Rice Cutgrass Leersia oryzoides
	Reed Canarygrass Phalaris arundinaceae
	Prairie Cordgrass Spartina pectinata
Polygonaceae	Swamp Smartweed Polygonum amphibium
	Mild Water-pepper Smartweed Ploygonum hydropiperoides
	Pale Smartweed Polygonum lapathifolium
Potamogetonaceae	Waterthread Pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius
	Leafy Pondweed Potamogeton foliosus
	Longleaf Pondweed Potamogeton nodosus
	Baby Pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
Salicaceae	Plains Cottonwood Populus deltoides
	Peach-leaved Willow Salix amygdaloides
	Carolina Willow Salix caroliniana
	Black Willow Salix nigra
Sparganiaceae	Giant Bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum
Typhaceae	Narrow-leaved Cattail Typha angustifolia
	Southern Cattail Typha domingensis
	Common Cattail Typha latifolia




Percent distribution of species within aquatic vegetation zones

Category	Quantity	Percent of Total
Submerged	5	5.6
Floating	8	9
Emergent	76	85.4




Plants were sampled along a 50m shoreline of the wetlands. There were a total of 14 plant species representing 10 families. While this represents a large number of the plants that are present it is not an entire survey of the species present.

Plants within the Hillsdale Wetland Area

Families	Species
Alismataceae	Smallflower Water Plantain Alisma subcordatum
	Common Arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia
Cyperaceae	3 Sedges Carex spp.
	Spikesedge Eleocharis sp.
Nelumbonaceae	American Lotus Nelumbo lutea
Onagraceae	Floating Water Primrose Ludwigia sp.
Poaceae	Barnyard Grass Echinocola sp.
Polygonaceae	Swamp Smartweed Polygonum amphibium
Rosaceae	Marsh Cinquefoil Potentilla palustris
Salicaceae	Peach-leaved Willow Salix amygdaloides
Typhaceae	Common Cattail Typha latifolia
Verbenaceae	Frog Fruit Lippia sp.




Percent distribution of species within aquatic vegetation zones

Category	Quantity	Percent of Total
Submerged	0	0
Floating	2	14
Emergent	12	86



In conclusion, the species richness differs greatly between these two sites. While the Hillsdale wetland area survey was not entirely complete there were many plants that were probably excluded from the Flint Hills NWR that were facultative and found in its wetlands. Difference in composition is most likely liked to the ages and size of both wetlands. Plants at Hillsdale, the "younger" wetland, have not had time to establish and colonize where as Flint Hills NWR wetland has had additional years and is further along on a succession time scale. Size also matters greatly the larger the area the more species will be present and in greater quantity. In this case Flint Hills NWR wetlands cover more acres than Hillsdale's wetland area.



Return to the top.

---

Policy

Each national wildlife refuge is established for a particular purpose. Formal establishment is usually based upon a statute or executive order specifically enumerating the purpose of the particular unit. However, refuges can be established by the Service under the authorization offered in such laws as the Endangered Species Act of 1973 or the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956.
Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge was established under a cooperative management agreement with the Corps of Engineers to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl in the Central Flyway. [page 18 CCP] It was established in 1966 under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 1958. [page 6 CCP] This Act stated that the refuge "....shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior directly or in accordance with cooperative agreements....and in accordance with such rules and regulations for the conservation, maintenance, and management of wildlife, resources therof, and its habitat thereon...." 16 U.S.C. 644. [page 6 CCP].

Policy - Water Rights

Flint Hills NWR has two types of water rights. The Certificates of Appropriation allow for either pumping or natural flow diversion for recreational purposes which includes fish and wildlife. Eighteen Certificates are approved for the diversion of water from the natural flows of the Neosho River and its tributaries by low profile dikes. Ten additional Certificates cover the pumping of water from the Neosho River and its tributaries into constructed and natural wetlands. One approved permit remains for natural flows that has not yet been certified [page 24 of the CCP].



Return to the top.

---

References


Neill, James T. Soil Survey of Lyon County, Kansas United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, 1981.

Penner, Harold L. Soil Survey of Linn and Miami Counties, Kansas United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Servie, 1981.

Swanson, Deane W. Soil Survey of Coffey County, Kansas. United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, 1982.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CCP Status in Region 6, Kansas.


Return to the top.

---