Lower Big Blue Watershed

Watershed Description

The Lower Big Blue Watershed is located in northeast Kansas and is comprised of portions of Clay, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley and Washington counties.  It also has portions in Nebraska.

Land features range from rolling plains dissected with narrow drainage ways to nearly broad level plains.  Soils range from silty clay loams with limestone underneath and shale to deep clay loams.

Predominate land use is rangeland consisting of tallgrass prairies. Plant health is a key resource concern.  Primary crops include corn, sorghum, and soybeans with resource concerns consisting of soil erosion, soil compaction, and poor soil condition due to low organic matter.

Key wildlife habitat includes cropland, rangeland, weedy and brushy fence rows and ungrazed areas, riparian areas, streams, and wetlands.  Key wildlife species include ring-necked pheasants, greater prairie chicken, bobwhite quail, and whitetail deer.