Few true aquatic plants were observed in the Arkansas River although mats of duckweed were found in shallow backwater pools at station A-3 (Fig. 2) on December 22, 1956. In the Walnut River _Najas guadalupensis_ Spreng. was common at station W-2. Stones were usually covered with algae in both the Arkansas and Walnut rivers. A red bloom, possibly attributable to _Euglena rubra_ (Johnson), was observed on a tributary of the Walnut River on July 9, 1956, at station W-4.
Green algae were abundant at all stations in the Caney, Elk, and Grouse systems during May and June, 1956, and reappeared late in September. _Chara_ sp. was common in these streams in April and May.
The most characteristic rooted aquatic of streams in the Flint Hills was _Justicia americana_ L. At station G-7 on Grouse Creek and Station C-8 on Big Caney River (Fig. 3), _Nelumbo lutea_ (Willd.) was found. _Myriophyllum heterophyllum_ Michx. formed dense floating mats at a number of stations. Other aquatic plants observed in the Caney, Elk, and Grouse systems included _Potamogeton gramineus_ L., _Potamogeton nodosus_ Poir., _Potamogeton foliosus_ Raf., _Sagittaria latifolia_ Willd., _Typha latifolia_ L., and _Jussiaea diffusa_ Forsk.
In 1857, a survey was made of the southern boundary of Kansas. Several diaries (Miller, 1932; Caldwell, 1937; Bieber, 1932) were kept by members of the surveying party, which traveled from east to west. These accounts contain complaints of difficulty in traversing a country of broken ridges and gulleys as the party approached the area now comprising Chautauqua County. One account by Hugh Campbell, astronomical computer for the party (Caldwell, 1937) mentions rocky ridges covered with dense growth of "black jack," while another by Col. Joseph Johnson, Commander (Miller, 1932) speaks of "a good deal of oakes in the heights"--indicating that the upland oak forest of the Chautauqua Hills was in existence at that time. On reaching Big Caney River near Elgin, Campbell wrote of a stream with very high banks and of a valley timbered with oak and black walnut. While the party was encamped on Big Caney River some fishing was done. Campbell (Caldwell, 1937:353) described the fish taken as "Cat, Trout or Bass, Buffalo and Garr." Eugene Bandel (Bieber, 1932:152) wrote, "This forenoon we did not expect to leave camp, and therefore we went fishing. In about two hours we caught more fish than the whole company could eat. There were some forty fish caught, some of them weighing over ten pounds." It was noted that the waters of Big Caney and its tributaries were "very clear." Progressing up Rock Creek, Johnson wrote of entering a high rolling plain covered with fine grass, and crossed occasionally by clear wooded streams (probably Big and Little Beaver Creeks and Grouse Creek). The diary of Hugh Campbell (Caldwell, 1937:354) contains a description of the Arkansas River Valley near the Oklahoma border. "The Arkansas River at this point is about 300 yards wide, its waters are muddy, not quite so much so, as those of the Mississippi or Rio Bravo. Its valley is wooded and about two miles in width, the main bottom here, being on the east side. On the west it is a rolling prairie as far as the eye can see, affording excellent grass." Some seining was done while encamped on the Arkansas River and "buffalo, catfish, sturgeons, and gars" were taken (Bieber, 1932:156).