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'7.) <:;,::> (".') 00 tit tQ KANSAS Introduction The Arkansas-White-Red region in Kansas encompasses generally the southern half of the state with a total of 26.8 million acres. Principal hydrologic areas include the Arkansas River and its tributaries; Cimarron River; and the Walnut, Verdigris, and Neosho Rivers. The area is predominantly agriculture-oriented, with crop production, primarily small grains, being the principal enterprise. Livestock production is an important livestock base. Irrigation is extensively practiced throughout the area with the heaviest concentration being in the south- west portion. The entire area has an extensive petroleum base, and natural gas fields of major significance are located in the southwest area. Coal producing areas are located in the southeast portion of the state. Of the total area, present cropland accounts for 15.2 million acres of which 1.4 million acres are under irrigation. Pasture and range land covers about 9.2 million acres at the present time. For projected conditions, total cropland.will increase slightly with a corresponding decrease in the pasture and range land. This change in land use will occur primarily in the western portion of the area. Irrigation acreage is projected to essentially double under future conditions. The urban area is dominated by the metropolitan SMSA of Wichita with other major urban centers of Hutchinson, Garden City, Liberal, Dodge City, Great Bend, Newton, McPherson, El Dorado, Winfield, Arkansas City, Emporia, Parsons, Chanute, Pittsburg, Independence, and Coffeyville. Total population of the area in Kansas was l,044,000 in 1975, of which 8l2,000 was in incorporated cities. Projected popula- tion is expected to reach 1,130,400 in 1985 and 1,260,000 in 2000. The urban pattern is eXpected to continue with all of the major cities con.. tinuing to show some increase. Rural population is expected to continue to decline. The area ranges from semiarid in the western portion to humid in the eastern portion. ,An~ual rainfall averages about 15 inches in the west ranging from lows of below OOF to highs in excess of 100oF. The area is subject to varied climatic conditions ranging from intense localized snow and rain storms to general area-wide moisture producing storms. During the spring and early summer period, tornado activity is generally an annual event. The hot, dry or humid, periods are characterized by prevailing southerly winds ranging from gentle breezes to extremely gusty conditions having the capability of generating considerable movement of topsoil. l8 I I I I I I I Ii , I , I, Ii II I I I I I