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Neosho River farmers warn reservoir sedimentation could harm rural water and local economies
Summary
A Neosho River farmer told the House Committee on Water that reservoir sedimentation jeopardizes reservoir capacity, municipal water supplies and local economic development, urging more immediate action on dredging and sediment plans.
Nathan Mintzer, a farmer along the Neosho River in Allen County, told the House Committee on Water that sedimentation in area reservoirs threatens municipal water supplies, flood control and long‑term economic development in river communities.
Mintzer said he supports the Kansas Water Office’s work on reservoir sedimentation and described a local perspective shaped by repeated flooding: "My grandfather still tells stories of the 1951 flood... While it seemed a long way away, I think the presentation said we have all the way till the 2070s until we go back to pre‑dam conditions." He urged the committee to accelerate planning and sediment management so downstream communities that draw drinking water from the Neosho are not left with degraded capacity for fire protection, industrial recruitment or municipal supply.
Mintzer said annual inundation of fields is common along the river, and that operators sometimes face stark choices about which properties to flood during extreme events. He urged attention to the capacity of rural water districts and treatment plants to handle increased sediment loads from any dredging or bypass projects.
Committee members thanked Mintzer and other producers and said the testimony would inform continuing committee work on water policy and technical responses to sedimentation.
