Environmental Research
Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas


Celebrating 25 years at the Nature Conservancy
Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve, Barton County, KS

Overview

Cheyenne Bottoms, a large natural depression near the center of Kansas, is considered to be the premier wetland of the state (Zimmerman 1990; Aber and Aber 2025). We began aerial and ground observations at the Nature Conservancy (TNC) Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve (CBP) in the spring of 2002. Since then, we have returned every year during the growing season—spring, summer and autumn. This year—2026—marks the 25th year for our environmental research at CBP.

Our primary method is kite aerial photography (KAP) to capture the bird's-eye view of what the marshes and pools look like from above. Our typical flying height is 300 to 500 feet above the ground. A few times, we have employed a small helium blimp to acquire similar aerial views, but we have not utilized unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly known as drones. Kites are a passive, quiet method for aerial photography that does not disturb the birds or other wildlife.

Wide-angle KAP overviews, June 2026

View westward

View northward

View to northeast

Late spring 2026 – Deception Creek

We visited CBP in late spring for another round of kite aerial photography under a mostly cloudy sky. We found water level had declined since the previous autumn—see 2025. Extensive mudflats were exposed, and water was quite shallow in pools, scarcely more than puddles. These conditions are optimum for migrating shorebirds, of which there were many. Water smartweed (Polygonum amphibium) occupied much of the mudflat margins along with small clumps of great bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani).

Closer KAP views, June 2026
Northward views of the bare mudflat with bright-green water smartweed along the margins. Dark lines across the mudflat are tracks left by cattle.
Left: Deception Creek in the background and a small pool around its delta at scene center. The water is so shallow that cattle tracks can be seen.

Right: vertical shot over marsh margin showing bright-green water smartweed with small, dark-green clumps of bulrush on right.

Vegetation along marsh margin
Left: red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) in a clump of great bulrush, surrounded by water smartweed.

Right: poison hemlock (Conium maculatum L.) is blooming with tiny white flowers. It's a common wetland plant in Kansas.

Equipment failure

During our KAP session, our kite-line reel suffered a catastropic failure. The knob for winding the line and securing the reel broke off without warning. This reel was more than 25 years old and never had experienced this kind of breakdown before. This put a temporary halt for our kite flying. Fortunately we had a backup reel and were able to continue with KAP and complete the session. Later we repaired the reel with a shorter handle for the knob.

Kite-line reel failure
Reel for kite line in normal operation (left) attached to a secure anchor on the ground. Note the blue strap to prevent the reel from turning. After the knob broke off the long handle (right). Only the inner knob remained, which made the reel quite difficult to operate.
Repaired kite-line reel with a shorter handle for the outer knob.


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