Arkansas River Water Quality Campaign
The Arkansas River and Little Arkansas River are valuable assets providing pastoral beauty, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities to Wichita and the region. Over the years, water quality in these rivers has improved substantially with more effective treatment technologies, better land management practices, and increasingly more stringent water quality regulations. Nevertheless, there is opportunity for additional improvement. In September of 2000, the City of Wichita organized an Arkansas River Symposium to bring together stakeholders for the purpose of hearing success stories from other communities and to provide an opportunity for the participants to provide their input through breakout session on Arkansas River water quality issues and how water quality improvements could be achieved. The main thrust of the symposium was to identify the sources of fecal coliform contamination that are currently of concern. Fecal coliform is a bacterial organism commonly used to determine water quality for recreational activities. In 2001, the Wichita City Council established the Arkansas River Advisory Committee and the Arkansas River Task Force. The Arkansas River Advisory Committee has a diverse representation of agricultural, environmental, urban, and academic interests. The mission of the Arkansas River Advisory Committee is to focus on educational and public awareness aspects of improving river water quality. The Arkansas River Task Force has a similar representation of individuals appointed by the City Manger with the approval of the City Council to examine technical and environmental investigation issues relating to the river. Extensive water quality testing continues through the efforts of the City of Wichita, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the United States Geological Survey. This sampling provides data that further defines the sources of contamination detrimental to the river. Get Involved
The Arkansas River and Little Arkansas River are valuable assets providing pastoral beauty, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities to Wichita and the region. Over the years, water quality in these rivers has improved substantially with more effective treatment technologies, better land management practices, and increasingly more stringent water quality regulations. Nevertheless, there is opportunity for additional improvement.
In September of 2000, the City of Wichita organized an Arkansas River Symposium to bring together stakeholders for the purpose of hearing success stories from other communities and to provide an opportunity for the participants to provide their input through breakout session on Arkansas River water quality issues and how water quality improvements could be achieved. The main thrust of the symposium was to identify the sources of fecal coliform contamination that are currently of concern. Fecal coliform is a bacterial organism commonly used to determine water quality for recreational activities.
In 2001, the Wichita City Council established the Arkansas River Advisory Committee and the Arkansas River Task Force. The Arkansas River Advisory Committee has a diverse representation of agricultural, environmental, urban, and academic interests. The mission of the Arkansas River Advisory Committee is to focus on educational and public awareness aspects of improving river water quality. The Arkansas River Task Force has a similar representation of individuals appointed by the City Manger with the approval of the City Council to examine technical and environmental investigation issues relating to the river.
Extensive water quality testing continues through the efforts of the City of Wichita, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the United States Geological Survey. This sampling provides data that further defines the sources of contamination detrimental to the river.
As of 2012, there are several opportunities to be involved on river projects:
The Arkansas River is our Kansas river and we all will continue working together to keep it an excellent community resource. After all, the Arkansas River is...
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Office of Environmental Health 1900 E. 9th St. N. Wichita, KS 67214
Hours:8 AM-5 PMMonday-Friday
: (316) 268-8351 : (316) 268-8390
Don Henry Interim Assistant Director of Public Works
Shawn Maloney Interim Environmental Health Manager