Arkansas River

Hot, dry weather is taking a toll on Kansas waterways. Many Kansas rivers are at their lowest level in decades. “It's probably the lowest I've ever seen it,” says Penny Lusk who lives along the Arkansas River near Derby. “Doesn't look like much of a river does it?” asks Lusk as she looks at the little water that is still flowing. The Arkansas in Derby is running, but only at a fraction of what it normally does this time of year.  As you head west, the river is dry. National Weather Service Hydrologist Janet Spurgeon says things will likely get worse before they get better.

Wichita Police say the 54-year-old man found floating in the Arkansas River Saturday has been identified as Vincent Manuel. He was found around 10:00 Saturday morning by two people kayaking on the river near Central & Nims, near the Riverside Park. Police say the autopsy results came back inconclusive.  They are still investigating his death.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded the health advisory for the Arkansas River. Analytical results from sampling the river on June 7 indicate that E. coli bacteria concentrations have returned to acceptable levels. KDHE first issued the health advisory on May 25 after the agency recorded elevated levels of bacteria during routine stream sampling by the ambient water quality monitoring program. This health advisory was issued for the portion of the Arkansas River from the Lincoln Street Bridge in central Wichita to the Oklahoma state line.

Despite Sundays wet weather Wichitans flocked to the Arkansas river for one of Riverfest's main attractions, the "Mid-America WaterCross Championships". Racers weaved jet skis around a tight course on the river. Normally this type of event is held on a lake where there is more room, but event spokesperson, Terry Hibert says the river creates some unique challenges. "You get a little more space on the lake but here on the river it's a  little more extreme, which is why we call it the extreme river challenge.

The second day of Riverfest ended without any rain to cause any worries. Downtown Wichita was filled with people looking for fun. "We thought we would bring the little one out with the family," said Chelsey Stefan who was at Riverfest with her toddler and family. "It's a togetherness and we have time to talk which a lot, doesn't happen nowadays," said Susan Long, who was also with her family. While they were enjoying each other, they also enjoyed the exotic animals like white tigers and camels, and everything the Arkansas River offered.                                              There was no rain at the second day of Riverfest

The City of Wichita has identified a permanent solution to the leaking valve at the primary Sewage Treatment Plant at 2305 E. 57th Street South. The repair work is scheduled to be completed on Friday. The city says it involves the construction of a concrete plug in the chamber that leads to the leaking valve. City crews made a temporary repair to the leak over the weekend. The permanent work will eliminate the line from which elevated levels of bacteria traveled into the Arkansas Rive.r.

The City of Wichita say its temporarily plugged a leaking valve at the sewage treatment plant at 2305 E. 57th Street. It's not known when the leak started or how much wastewater entered the Arkansas River. The city and the Kansas Department of Health and Enviornment discovered the leak Saturday, one day after issuing a public health advisory for the river.  Both organizations are sampling water quality to determine the effectiveness of the temporary plug.  Permanent repairs will be made after an inspection by KDHE.

A leak at Wichita's Wastewater Treatment Plant makes the water in parts of the Arkansas river dangerous. Crews are working through the holiday to fix it, but so far their efforts have failed. The advisory extends from the Lincoln Street bridge in Central Wichita to the Oklahoma state line. Julio Valencia likes fishing near the Lincoln Street bridge just south of downtown. It's a popular spot on a sunny day. "(Catching anything?) Well two of them got away," Valencia said.

A public health advisory has been issued for parts of the Arkansas River.  The Kansas Department of Health and Enviorment put out the warning Friday due to elevated levels of bacteria. The bacteria was discovered during routine sampling of the water.  KDHE also says there's been a fishkill in areas where there is black and odor filled water.  The parts of the river under an advisory extend from the Lincoln Street Bridge in Wichita to the Oklahoma state line. KDHE advises individuals to have no contact with the Arkansas River between the locations identified above until further notice.  Residents are also advised to keep their pets and livestock from making contact with the water.

It's a tradition in the Riverside area; residents help Mother Nature do a bit of spring cleaning. Volunteers pitch in at the 11th annual river clean-up at the Arkansas River. They spruced the place up by collecting garbage from the river and its banks. It's a part of the city wide earth day effort and part of the Riverfest preparations and Wichita officials say it's a great way to keep festival goers safe. The cleanup is registered with “American Rivers” as part of the National River Cleanup Initiative.