The Arkansas River Lowlands, an area of flat floodplains, cut through the High Plains and into south-central Kansas. While most of the region corresponds to the river’s course from Hamilton County to Cowley County, it also encompasses an area of irregular grass-capped sand dunes stretching south of the Arkansas River.
Geology
This region is relatively flat, covered with gravel and quartz-based sand deposited by the Arkansas River. Primarily south of the river, inactive sand dunes can be found, held in place by the roots of plants. Mining for sand and gravel has become an important industry in this region.
East of Hutchinson, the Arkansas River Lowlands are underlain by a layer of shale known as the Wellington Formation. Gypsum can be found in parts of the Wellington Formation, particularly in outcroppings along Gypsum Creek on the east side of Wichita.
Soil
The soil mostly consists of sand, silt, and gravel deposited by the Arkansas River on its way down from the Rockies, although some higher-quality soils can be found away from the river. Sand, however, predominates; digging it up has become an important industry in this region.
Vegetation
Most of the Arkansas River Lowlands region is covered by sandsage prairie vegetation. Species include sand sagebrush, sand bluestem, little bluestem, and prairie sandreed.
Wildlife
Flowing through some of the driest parts of Kansas, the Arkansas River serves as a haven for wildlife species that depend on water. Flocks of migrating shorebirds congregate in this region seasonally in spectacular numbers.
The threatened Arkansas River shiner is a fish species native to this region.
Water
Water has long been a major concern in the Arkansas River Lowlands. Irrigation and evaporation pull more water out of the river than the low levels of precipitation can replace. Much of the Arkansas River is dry throughout part of the year, sometimes long enough that crops have been grown in the river bed.
Climate
As one travels through the region from east to west, the climate grows progressively drier, sunnier, and windier. Annual precipitation ranges from about 30 inches near Wichita to about 15 inches near the Colorado state line. The growing season also becomes shorter as one moves west.
Agriculture
Rangeland and cropland both have their place here, although cropland generally predominates in all but the westernmost part of the region. Winter wheat is the main dryland crop. Thanks to irrigation, however, alfalfa and sorghum are also grown in the Arkansas River Lowlands.
Also of Interest
Although the perennial disappearance of the Arkansas River is usually blamed on irrigation and has long been a bone of contention between Kansas and Colorado, this tendency predates any significant white settlement. It is true, however, that irrigation has sped up the water-depletion process, sometimes dramatically.
Helpful Resource
Windswept Dune
Yes, a photo of a sand dune taken in Kansas!
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