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2 INTRODUCTION This report is part A of the sixth in a series of studies of Kansas streamflow characteristics undertaken as a part of the cooperative pro- grams for water resources investigations between State of Kansas agencies and the U.S. Geological Survey. Prior technical reports in the series had included investigations of the following: The percent of time that stream- flow of a given magnitude can be expected to be equaled or exceededl; the frequency that minimum flow for periods of given length may fall below various rates2; the magnitude and frequency of flood discharges3; the ad- equacy of various storage capacities to sustain the low flow of streams above various rates4; the adequac5' of various storage capacities to limit flood releases below various rates . This sixth report in the series is an analysis of base flow or that flow largely derived from ground-water sources. To release information as quickly as possible, Report No.6 will be pub- lished in several parts. This first part contains principally the basic data of base flow and will provide information for future parts in analyzing pro- bability distributions, recession rates and other characteristics of base flow. Base-flow analyses are needed in Kansas to provide further insight into resolving low-flow problems. An earlier report2 discussed the low flows of streams and the needs for low-flow data and methods for predicting how frequently the streams may reach certain low rates of flow. However, these low rates of flow during the more prolonged periods include some storm runoff. This storm runoff will decrease in the future as more head- water development such as farm ponds, detention reservoirs and soil treat- ment practices retain the rain where it falls. Therefore because base flow 1 Furness, L. W., 1959, Kansas streamflow characteristics, pt. 1, Flow dura- tion: Kansas Water Resources Board, Tech. Rept. No.1. 2 Furness, L. frequency: W., 1960, Kansas streamflow characteristics, pt. 2, Low-flow Kansas Water Resources Board, Tech. Rept. No.2. 3 Ellis, D. W., and Edelen, G. W., Jr., 1960, Kansas streamflow characteris- tics, pt. 3, Flood frequency: Kansas Water Resources Board, Tech. Rept. No.3. 4 Furness, L. W., 1962, Kansas streamflow characteristics, pt. 4, Storage requirements to sustain gross reservoir outflow: Kansas Water Resources Board, Tech. Rept. No.4. 5 Furness, L. W., Burns, C. V., and Busby, M. W., 1964, Kansas streamflow characteristics, pt. 5, Storage requirements to control high flow: Kansas Water Resources Board, Tech. Rept. No.5.