Upcoming Events
Jan. 27-28: Kansas Water Authority meeting at Topeka
Feb. 3: Water Issues Forum at Wichita
Feb. 4: Water Issues Forum at Hays
Feb. 4-5: Kansas Natural Resources Conference at Wichita
Feb. 8-10: Kansas Dam Safety Conference at Hutchinson
Feb. 10: Stream Obstructions Seminar at Hutchinson
For more information about these and other upcoming events, please check our events listings at www.ksda.gov/dwr/events.
States Urge Feds to Increase Funding for Streamgages
Chief Engineer David Barfield was one of 38 state officials in 27 states to sign a Dec. 14 letter to U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar urging full implementation and funding for the U.S. Geological Survey’s streamgaging programs.
The Interstate Council on Water Policy prepared the letter and worked with state officials to get their support for it. A similar letter signed by 56 nongovernmental organizations was sent to congressional Appropriations Subcommittee leaders.
According to the council, full funding of the National Streamflow Information Program and Cooperative Water Program would require federal appropriations totaling $205 million per year, which is substantially more than the $93 million budgeted this year.
Streamgages measure the depth of water in streams. The measurements are used to compute flow rates. Most USGS streamgages have automated data transmission systems allowing “real-time” information to be posted on their website. Kansas streamgage information is available at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/current/?type=flow.
Data collected by streamgages are important for flood forecasting and monitoring, determining compliance with interstate compacts, regulating water rights, managing reservoirs, assessing water availability, and many other uses. Because the information is so important, many states and organizations are asking the federal government to increase funding for streamgages.
Western States Oppose Clean Water Restoration Act
U.S. Senator Pat Roberts was one of 28 senators and representatives from western states who signed a Dec. 8 letter to the Senate majority leader and speaker of the House opposing the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 787) and a yet-to-be introduced companion bill in the House.
The proposed legislation would have the effect of greatly expanding the federal government’s regulation of surface waters and possibly groundwater. This is particularly concerning to western states, including Kansas, because it conflicts with state’s rights and would substantially increase costs while providing few real benefits.
Both the Kansas Natural Resources Subcabinet and the Kansas Water Authority urged the Kansas congressional delegation to oppose this legislation. In a June 22 letter the subcabinet wrote, “One of the benefits touted with the proposed legislation is protection of small headwater streams. In Kansas, such drainages are either ‘ephemeral’ (flows only during rain) or already protected as ‘waters of the state’ under state law, therefore, expanded CWA [Clean Water Act] authority is unnecessary.”
The subcabinet also noted, “Expansion of the CWA to additional waters, including dry streams and the estimated 100,000 –250,000 farm ponds across the state, places an undue and unnecessary burden on Kansas agency resources dedicated to protecting the waters of the state by diverting their attention to gulches or ephemeral waters of marginal benefit.”
Kansas agencies are committed to protecting and restoring water quality in Kansas without expanding federal jurisdiction and the additional costs it would involve.
Staff News
Alicia Benson joined DWR earlier this month as an Environmental Scientist III in the Floodplain Management Unit. Alicia will help with the floodplain map modernization process, including conducting scoping activities with communities and visiting officials about communities’ mapping needs. She also will help communities with other floodplain management activities. Alicia has a degree in Industrial Engineering from Kansas State University and previously worked at Caterpillar.
Tom Morey, supervisor of the Floodplain Management Unit, has been appointed by the Association of State Floodplain Managers to serve as president of the association’s Certification Board of Regents. In this role, Tom will oversee the national Certified Floodplain Manager Program, a widely recognized and respected certification program designed to “help reduce the nation’s flood losses and protect and enhance the natural resources and functions of its floodplains by improving the knowledge and abilities of floodplain managers in the United States.” More information about the CFM Program is available on ASFPM’s website, at www.floods.org.
Web Updates
DWR is continually improving its website to provide timely and useful information on water resource issues. Here’s a summary of recently added features and content:
- Kansas Geological Survey maps of Ogallala-High Plains aquifer water level changes 1999-2009 and estimated usable lifetime (at www.ksda.gov/dwr, click on “Maps” in the left panel).
- Maps to DWR office locations (at www.ksda.gov/dwr/contact/).
- Link to U.S. Geological Survey’s water use website (at www.ksda.gov/dwr, click on “Data and Links” in left panel).
Convenient links to some new content are provided in the “News” area on DWR’s homepage at www.ksda.gov/dwr.
