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A dam fix
John Schlageck
As the Kansas
population continues to shift to the eastern
half or third of the state, the majority of
people are dependent on the use of federal
reservoirs for their drinking water.
Twenty of Kansas’ 24
federal reservoirs provide some type of public
water supply, according to Kent Askren, Kansas
Farm Bureau water specialist. Two-thirds of the
Kansas population is dependent upon stored
public water.
“Few people know or
understand how tied we are to our federal
reservoirs for our drinking water,” Askren says.
In addition to
drinking water Kansas reservoirs also play a
minor role in providing navigational support for
the Missouri River downstream from Kansas City.
That’s right, during periods of drought millions
of gallons of precious Kansas water may be sent
to the Gulf to support barge shipping on the
Missouri and later Mississippi rivers.
And while many who
live west of Highway 81 would argue this may
have little impact on them, that’s not the case.
“When
such weather events like drought occur, sending
water out of our Kansas reservoirs can impact
everyone who lives in the river corridors and
also, those who live upstream from these
reservoirs,” Askren explains. “The water that
eventually winds up in our federal reservoirs falls
on fertile farmland miles and miles upstream.”
What may
happen in the future is restriction of water
rights above Milford, Tuttle Creek and Perry
Reservoirs. Competition for this water is great
and it must be managed to its fullest potential.
“Our
dilemma in agriculture is to consider the
present and future operations of our federal
reservoirs in Kansas with regards to the
in-state impacts, while at the same time
examining our steadfast support for Missouri
River navigation,” the KFB water specialist
says.
Another
major consideration for this state is the
necessity to prolong the life of Kansas
reservoirs or find other options like building
new ones.
“Either
option is going to be very, very expensive,”
Askren says. “This is especially true today with
our continuing state shortfalls and state
revenues plummeting.”
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