USGS Water-Year Summary for Site 06864500

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	00065 Gage height(Mean)

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Water year 2023: 2022-10-01 to 2023-09-30

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USGS Water-Year Summary 2023

06864500 SMOKY HILL RIVER AT ELLSWORTH, KS

LOCATION - Lat 38°43'36", long 98°14'00" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in SW 1/4 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 sec.20, T.15 S., R.8 W., Ellsworth County, KS, Hydrologic Unit 10260006, on right bank at downstream side of bridge on Kansas Highway 14 in Ellsworth, 2.0 mi downstream from Turkey Creek, and at mile 213.7.

DRAINAGE AREA - 7,580 mi². approximately.

REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 796-B: 1903. WSP 806: Drainage area. WSP 1176: 1923. WSP 1440: 1895-1905, 1919, 1921, 1929-30(M), 1936-37(M).

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - April 1895 to October 1905, July 1918 to July 1925, August 1928 to current year.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 1,509.02 ft above NGVD of 1929. NAVD88 levels have been obtained but differential levels still needed to tie into datum. Prior to Oct. 31, 1905, non-recording gage at present site at datum 1.61 ft higher. July 23, 1918, to July 4, 1925, and Aug. 1, 1928, to Nov. 29, 1939, non-recording gage at present site and datum.

REMARKS - Flow moderately regulated since 1950 by Cedar Bluff Reservoir (station 06861500), 120 mi upstream. Natural flow also affected by groundwater withdrawals, diversions for irrigation, and return flow from irrigated areas. Satellite telemeter at station.

EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Flood in August 1927 reached a stage of 25.7 ft, from floodmarks, discharge, 44,800 ft³/s.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Peak flow occurred June 1, 1938 with a discharge of 61,000 cfs and corresponding stage of 27.20 ft.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - November 2008 to September 2010 (discontinued).

PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD - SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE: November 2008 to September 2010 (discontinued). WATER TEMPERATURE: November 2008 to September 2010 (discontinued). TURBIDITY (YSI 6136 sensor): November 2008 to September 2010 (discontinued).

INSTRUMENTATION - Multiparameter water-quality monitor.

REMARKS - Interruptions in record are due to ice conditions or malfunction of the recording instrument or sensors. Instruments used to measure turbidity conform to ISO 7027 standards and were made using Yellow Springs Instrument (YSI) 6026 and 6136 sensors.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE: Maximum, 2,580 miscrosiemens/cm, Juluy 17, 2009; minimum, 137 microsiemens/cm, Aug. 25, 2009. WATER TEMPERATURE: Maximum, 36.6°C, July 14, 2009; minimum, -0.2°C, Dec. 4, 2009. TURBIDITY (YSI 6136 sensor): Maximum, >1,280 FNU, July 22, 2010; minimum, <0.1 FNU, Oct. 10, 2009.