State warns reservoir storage has fallen at several sites; officials outline sediment-management options and funding choices

Summary

Task force members heard that Kansas— federal reservoirs have lost storage to sediment and that releases to maintain downstream flows often draw heavily on remaining storage. Presenters described water-marketing and assurance programs and technical and policy options to preserve reservoir function.

State officials warned the task force that storage losses to sediment have reduced available water in some Kansas federal reservoirs and that those losses, combined with drought and rising local demand, put pressure on downstream municipal and industrial water supplies.

Richard Rockel of the Kansas Water Office outlined the state—s role as the contracting water-supply interest in multiple federal reservoirs and described three programs: a water-marketing program (water purchase contracts for direct withdrawal and downstream diversion), water-assurance districts (storage set aside to supplement municipal and industrial water rights) and statute-authorized programs such as the Lower Smoky Hill Water Supply Access Program.

Rockel said reservoirs in the Kansas River basin (Milford, Tuttle Creek and Perry) and others around the state have lost storage to sedimentation and that some reservoir operations now…

State warns reservoir storage has fallen at several sites; officials outline sediment-management options and funding choices

Summary

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