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LOW LAKE LEVELS PLAGUE WESTERN,
NORTHERN KANSAS
Impaired stream flows deplete many reservoirs;
boating safety, waterfowl seasons may be affected
August 17, 2006 - PRATT -- The past year
has not been good to the reservoirs of northern Kansas. Drought
and heavy water use have plagued the region, and the resulting
lack of stream flow into these reservoirs has fishermen wringing
their hands and boaters cautiously motoring waters so shallow
that underwater hazards -- such as rocky outcroppings and barely
submerged tree stumps -- present a risk.
"It's so bad in western parts of the state
that the U.S. Geological Survey is saying that we have less
water flowing than in the 1930s even though we have had more
rainfall," says Steve Adams, natural resources coordinator
for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. "The state
Division of Water Resources tells us that we have the lowest
volume of water in some Kansas streams since records have been
kept. What rainfall we've had just can't keep up with evaporation
rates."
Kansas is not alone. One look at the internet site
"U.S. Drought Monitor" -- www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html
-- reveals
hat Kansas appears to be in better shape than surrounding states.
Still, that is of little consolation to those who use the Sunflower
State's many streams and reservoirs for recreation.
Northwestern Kansas has been hardest hit. Even
reservoirs that seldom suffer substantial drops in water levels
-- such as Glen Elder, Kanopolis, and Wilson -- have felt the
effects of low stream flows due to lack of rainfall. Some reservoirs
no longer have usable boat ramps because the water is so low.
Webster Reservoir is the most critical, being 28 feet below
conservation pool (normal lake level) -- a mere 12 feet at its
maximum depth. Kirwin Reservoir is 23.9 feet below conservation
pool, and Glen Elder is 7.7 feet low, extremely low for that
lake. Wilson is 5.8 feet low, and Cedar Bluff is down 15 feet.
Norton Reservoir would likely be completely dry but for a minimum
pool agreement with the local irrigation district. As a result,
it is maintaining at 18 feet below conservation pool.
Kanopolis Reservoir -- which is seldom low -- may
exemplify the current trend. According to state park manager
Rick Martin, the area is so parched that all boat ramps are
high and dry.
"All our spring-fed creeks are almost completely
dried," Martin explains. "Inflow from the reservoir's
primary river -- the Smoky Hill -- is 2 to 5 feet per cubic
second (cfs). Most of our viewing ponds and the Kids' Pond are
about one-half full. Our visitation rate for Labor Day weekend
looks pretty bleak."
Northeastern Kansas normally does not lack rainfall
in summer, but even this area of the state is drier than normal.
This compounds problems for area reservoirs -- including Milford,
Perry, and Tuttle Creek -- that must release water to support
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation on the Kansas and Missouri
Rivers. Many fishing lakes are low, as well, and Douglas State
Fishing Lake, near Lawrence, has been drained for renovation.
While lack of water makes boating hazardous and
fishing difficult, it may also affect waterfowl hunting if heavy
rains do not come soon. Although Kansas rests in the middle
of the Central Flyway, migrating ducks won't stop if ponds and
lakes don't fill.
Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, near Stafford,
is one of the most consistently reliable waterfowl stop-over
points, but it is suffering, too. "Our Little Salt Marsh
has a fair amount of water, and Big Salt Marsh is currently
75 percent covered, but most of the other smaller marshes are
dry," says area manager Dave Hilley. "Conditions are
really poor. We've still got some stream flow from Rattlesnake
Creek, but not enough to keep up with evaporation. In fact,
conditions are dry enough that we are discing many dry marshes
for vegetation control."
Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, one of the premier
waterfowl areas in the world, is not in good shape. The area
is receiving no inflow from the Arkansas and Wet Walnut Rivers.
Pool 1-B is holding about 12 inches of water, but all other
pools are dry. "We've got a ways to go," says area
manager Karl Grover. "Significant rainfall before teal
season begins Sept. 9 could change things dramatically, but
it would have to be a lot of rain."
Water levels in most major reservoirs in Kansas
are monitored and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
To find information about current conditions at these reservoirs,
visit the Corps website, http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/states.cfm?
state=KS. Click lakes marked on the map and then click "Lake
Levels" in the left-hand column of the page.
Cedar Bluff, Cheney, Sebelius, Kirwin, Lovewell,
Glen Elder, and Webster reservoirs are managed by the U.S. Bureau
of Reclamation. For information on these lakes, go to www.recreation.gov/
advancedsearch.cfm?states=KS.
The U.S. Geological Survey monitors stream flow
in many Kansas rivers. For a comparison of Kansas stream flow
from 2000-2006 with periods of drought in the 1930s and 1950s,
go to http:// ks.water.usgs.gov/Kansas/waterwatch/drought/drought-comparison.rev.htm.
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