GLEN ELDER, KS – Residents concerned about the recent series of earthquakes in the region received reassurance from a leading expert. General Manager Lydia Housh spoke with Dr. Rick Miller, a senior scientist in geophysics at the KU Kansas Geological Survey (KGS), to shed light on the ongoing seismic activity.
Dr. Miller, who has dedicated decades to studying Kansas earthquakes, provided valuable insights into the causes and potential future of these tremors. He explained that while the quakes may be new to the Glen Elder area, they have been occurring in the Salina Basin for over 10 years.
“The earthquakes started in Smith and Osborne counties and have been moving eastward, affecting Jewell County as well,” Dr. Miller stated. He predicts that the earthquakes will continue on a similar path, eventually shifting eastward and northward as pressure is released from existing fault lines.
The primary cause of these earthquakes, according to Dr. Miller, is the injection of wastewater from horizontal drilling operations. “Over the past 15 years, starting in Oklahoma and moving into Harper and Sumner counties in south-central Kansas, water has been deposited into deep, non-potable aquifers,” he explained. This water then travels through cracks and natural faults, increasing pressure on already stressed fault lines located about five miles deep in the Salina Basin.
Addressing local theories, Dr. Miller dismissed the notion that the covered Waconda Spring or the Glen Elder dam and lake are contributing to the quakes. He clarified that the spring water originates from the Dakota Formation, moving through natural fractures over several hundred feet, and does not exert significant pressure. Similarly, surface-level changes like dam work have no impact on faults located five miles below ground. While rapid filling and draining of dams can trigger earthquakes elsewhere, he confirmed that this is not the case here.
“While it’s difficult to say anything has a zero probability, statistically, we do not expect a quake of magnitude 5 or higher in this area,” Dr. Miller stated. He anticipates continued swarms of 2.5 to 3.5 magnitude earthquakes over the next five to ten years.
“There is no need for panic,” he assured residents. “These quakes should not cause damage to foundations, structures, or dams.” However, he advised residents to take basic precautions, such as securing overhead items and shelves to prevent them from falling during mild tremors.
The KGS, he noted, focuses on providing detailed information about Kansas earthquakes and will continue to update their data regularly, keeping residents informed.
