MDC's Role and Vision for the Blue River Watershed

The following perspectives on problems and opportunities for watershed management will guide MDC management activities for the foreseeable future. We realize that we are only one of many partners whose joint efforts will be needed to protect and restore stream ecosystem integrity in the Blue River watershed. This is especially true for this highly urbanized watershed which is located within two states and numerous cities.

Improving Water Quality

Current Status:

Water quality in Blue River watershed streams is degraded by many pollution sources. The lower reach of the Blue River has serious problems from industrial and sewage treatment plant discharges in addition to the cumulative effects of upstream pollution sources. Sewage treatment plant effluents negatively impact the lower reach of Indian Creek and the Blue River downstream from the confluence of these two streams. Although water quality improves further upstream, several point and non-point pollution sources have adverse impacts on aquatic fauna. Discharge violations and indiscriminate introduction of pollutants into basin streams will be a continual problem. Pollution from non-point sources will probably increase as the metropolitan area grows. The sources and impacts of all pollutants are not fully understood. The discovery of high concentrations of chlordane in Blue River fishes during the mid-1980's is a good example of this. Reaching beneficial use attainment for the Blue River will require improved compliance of water quality standards. All aquatic communities will benefit from efforts to enhance water quality. Fisheries management activities in Missouri should target the mainstream Blue River above the confluence with Indian Creek. Water quality in this reach of the Blue River is currently capable of supporting a diverse fish community including several important sport fish species.

Action Items:

Protecting Stream Habitat

Current Status:

Extensive development of the entire Blue River watershed will probably occur in a relatively short period of time (tens of years) with the expansion of Kansas City and its suburbs. The high value of land will probably result in a relatively low percentage of the watershed consisting of rural, idle, and park lands. Efforts to restore and enhance natural habitat will be best spent within stream corridors. Fortunately, there are some stream reaches where the corridors are already in public ownership and are managed as park lands. The most notable is the Blue River corridor from the Missouri/Kansas state line downstream to 63rd Street. Most of the corridor along this 17.6-mile stretch of river is owned by Jackson County Parks and Recreation, (Blue River Parkway) and Kansas City Parks, Recreation and Boulevards, (Minor Park and Swope Park). However, most stream corridors in the basin are in private ownership and many have been severely abused. Riparian timber has been removed, stream segments have been channelized, and trash dumped along streams. Efforts should be made to encourage public ownership of stream corridors to reduce their destruction by urban encroachment.

Streambank erosion is another habitat degradation problem in the Blue River watershed. Urban development continually alters the hydraulics of the Blue River and its tributaries. The proliferation of pavement, buildings and other impermeable surfaces in the watershed increases the amount and rate of runoff to basin streams. This not only accelerates bank erosion, but the flashy nature of water flows has a negative impact on fish communities and other aquatic fauna.

Flooding is a major problem along basin streams and will worsen unless measures are taken to counteract the effects of urban watershed development. Flooding occurs almost annually. Flood events which cause property damage in the millions of dollars are common and occasionally there is loss of human lives. The need for better flood control and watershed management has been recognized for many years. The USACOE completed an extensive flood control study for the Blue River basin in 1974 (USACOE 1974). The plan contained two major recommendations:

  1. modification of the lower 13.6 miles of stream channel (63rd Street to the mouth) in the more heavily developed section of Kansas City including the industrial district, and
  2. construction of four large water retention lakes in the upper watershed. The USACOE is currently working with the city of Kansas City, Missouri (local sponsor) on channel modifications in the lower section of the Blue River.

Most of this work will have negative impacts on aquatic life as the stream channel is widened and straightened. The proposed watershed lakes would have totaled 3,100 acres at conservation pool. At flood pool, they would have totaled 5,250 acres and provided 68,100 acre-feet of flood water storage (USACOE 1974). Unfortunately, the lakes were not constructed and the opportunity has been lost due to urban sprawl into the proposed lake sites. Controlled water releases from these lakes would have reduced erosion of stream banks and maintained stream flows more beneficial to aquatic fauna. Many smaller water retention lakes would have to be constructed to provide the same flood protection as the proposed large lakes. Efforts to provide effective flood control in the Blue River basin have progressed very slowly. A major problem has been the coordination of a large number of municipalities in two states that must agree to a watershed management plan. Coordination problems will continue to be a major barrier to effective stream management.

Action Items:

Conserving Aquatic Communities

Current Status:

Despite urban development and related water quality and habitat degradation, portions of the Blue River and its tributaries provide diverse communities of fishes and aquatic invertebrates. Thirty-eight fish species have been sampled from the Blue River basin and nearly all of these fish are year-round inhabitants. There are no known endangered fish species in the watershed. Pallid sturgeon, lake sturgeon, and flathead chubs which are endangered in Missouri could migrate into the watershed from the Missouri River, but this would be unlikely due to poor water quality in the lower reach of the Blue River. In recent years, aquatic invertebrates have been sampled on a regular basis as part of the Stream Team program. Monitoring the diversity of fishes and aquatic invertebrates will be a valuable method to determine trends in environmental quality.

In Missouri, the best fishing in the Blue River is upstream from 63rd Street. Much of this 17.6-mile reach of the river has moderate gradient and rocky substrate. During periods of normal to low flow, the water is typically clear. The stream appears to be more characteristic of a transitional Prairie-Ozark upland stream rather than a true prairie stream. A network of riffles and pools, deadfalls, and a variety of streambed substrates provide good fish habitat. Channel catfish and carp are probably the most abundant and sought after sport fishes, however, flathead catfish, black bullhead, largemouth bass, green sunfish, bluegill, and white crappie are also caught by anglers. In the lower section of this reach, including Swope Park, the gradient lessens. Riffle and pool complexes are replaced by long runs. Silt and clay become more common streambed substrates and water conditions are more turbid. Catfish and carp are the more common and important sport fish species. Fish community diversity and fishing opportunities vary greatly in other reaches of the Blue River and its tributaries. Some sections of streams in the basin such as the lower Blue River and lower Indian Creek are grossly polluted and support limited fish populations. Some reaches have experienced severe habitat degradation such as the lower Brush Creek stream channel which is a concrete waterway. On the other hand, some streams such as Wolf and Coffee creeks in the upper watershed have been altered less by urban development. They have better water quality and habitat which support diverse fish communities. However, sport fishing opportunities are limited due to the smaller size of these streams.

Since the entire Blue River basin is in a major metropolitan area, degradation of water quality, stream habitat, and fish communities will probably continue. This is especially true in the upper half of the watershed in Johnson County, Kansas where urban development is spreading at a rapid pace. Any efforts to protect aquatic communities must emphasize water quality enhancement, stream habitat conservation, and good watershed management practices.

Action Items:

Increasing Recreational Use

Current Status:

Public use of the watershed streams has not been surveyed. Use is probably at least moderate since the watershed is located in a major metropolitan area. Fortunately, there is a large amount of public park land along the Blue River and, to a lesser degree, along Indian, Brush, Coffee, and Wolf creeks. These lands help protect stream corridors from the negative impacts of urban development. In the long run, acquisition of more stream corridors for park lands will probably be the best strategy to ensure corridor protection. Natural resource managers, park administrators, and the public must be diligent to ensure that current park lands containing stream corridors are not sold or developed intensively. Acquisition of large tracts of land with stream corridors will probably be difficult in the future due to the high cost of land in the urban area.

The public lands mentioned above provide fairly good access to the Blue River and other basin streams. For example, Blue River Road follows the river for about 8.4 miles in Missouri. Most access requires at least some hiking through corridors to reach the streams. This is not a problem for serious anglers, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. However, easy access to the streams for most people is limited except for a few locations. This is especially true for people who are mobility impaired. Access to the Blue River and some of its major tributaries should be improved. Improved access would foster more use along basin streams and promote appreciation of aquatic resources.

We assume that a large percentage of the urban public is not aware of stream recreational opportunities in the Blue River watershed. Publicizing recreational opportunities will increase use and awareness of the resource's value. Increased public contact with this resource will foster advocacy for watershed streams.

Action Items:

Promoting Citizen Involvement

Current Status:

Unfortunately, most residents who live in the Blue River watershed do not regard the Blue River and its tributaries as important natural resources and valuable areas for outdoor recreation. For these people, the Blue River conjures up visions of flooding, contaminated water, fishkills, and stream corridors degraded by urban development. These attitudes are frequently reinforced by media articles that emphasize negative rather than positive aspects of the river.

The degree to which the streams in the Blue River watershed are preserved and wisely managed will ultimately depend upon public perceptions and attitudes toward this resource. There is a need to increase public awareness and appreciation for stream resources. Programs such as Stream Team need to be expanded to build a strong base of advocates for watershed streams.

Action Items: