by Dan Knupp Kansas reservoirs, designed for the future n early evening return flight its tributaries were fighting (along Each side had vociferous from nearly anywhere east with their interest groups) for supporters in Washington who of Kansas on the right attention in Washington D.C. One, were finally quieted when weather day can present the from the U.S. Army Corps of President Franklin Roosevelt dazzling visual welcome- Engineers, was championed by forced the two agencies into home of the sun’s reflection then Colonel Lewis Pick (later negotiations, ending in Aon the many reservoirs and lakes of Kansas. Seen from 40,000 feet with the setting sun lighting them President Franklin Roosevelt forced the two agencies up, lakes line up across the eastern half of the state – glistening gems into negotiations, ending in compromise, the “Pick- set in the patchwork of sunset shadow and color. Sloan Missouri Basin Program.” The Program was From cruise altitude authorized with passage of the “Flood Control descending to a landing in Wichita for me would mean contorting to Act of December 22, 1944.” catch a glimpse of lakes where sail boating and teaching sailing compromise, the “Pick-Sloan as a Red Cross volunteer were promoted to Brig. Gen). His plan Missouri Basin Program.” The special parts of many summers – emphasized flood control and Program was authorized with Cheney, El Dorado and Fall River! barge navigation and was a favorite passage of the “Flood Control Act of lower basin states. The second of December 22, 1944.” With it, Background and history each side won Although ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE KANSAS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY most items on recreation is a their wish lists. major use of the The Act 24 major Kansas approved the lakes and general reservoirs, most comprehensive were originally plan for the parts of competing conservation, elements for a control, and use national Missouri of water River Basin resources in the development plan entire Missouri Dan Knupp that was talked Communications River Basin. The about as long ago combined Corps as the Civil War. Nothing much A solitary fisherman on Keith Sebelius Lake on Prairie Dog Creek and Bureau lists happened on the project until in Norton County. Recreation is one of the many uses for for the uses of Kansas reservoirs. major flooding on the upper these water Missouri River occurred during was authored by the U.S. Bureau resources included flood control, the spring of 1943. This disaster of Reclamation’s William Sloan. aids to navigation, irrigation, was serious enough to prompt The Sloan Plan emphasized supplemental water supplies, action even as WWII was raging irrigation, municipal/industrial power generation, in Europe and the Pacific. water supplies, hydroelectric municipal/industrial water At the time of the flooding, power, fish and wildlife habitat supplies, stream-pollution two competing plans for a series and recreation. This one was an abatement, sediment control, of dams on the Missouri River and upstream, farmer, and Western preservation and enhancement of state favorite. 64 THE KANSAS LIFELINE November 2006 fish and wildlife, and creation of federal reservoirs are in the industry wants water left in place. recreation opportunities. Arkansas Basin and were not part The environmental lobby sues to In a few short months after of Pick-Sloan – and not all have water released at critical passage, many Army engineers reservoirs in the Missouri Basin times for habitat maintenance and and soldiers returning from the were Pick-Sloan. barge owners counter-sue to have water released only during dry war had jobs in the Midwest, Competition persists for times to ensure down-stream tackling the construction Missouri River water nationally of nearly 100 dams navigation – including navigation The high price tag on the and the hundreds of miles of on the Mississippi River! Over the Flood Control Act was due in part floodwalls and levies on the 62 years since the Act’s passage, to the many uses the Plan massive Pick-Sloan to-do list. nasty political fighting over this encompassed and the interest Nationally, Pick-Sloan got the ball water has been common. As groups represented have been rolling as evidenced by the many population growth continues and competing ever since. In dry years additional reservoir projects that the Midwest contends with an farmers want more water released followed. In Kansas, nine of the ongoing drought, we can be for irrigation, while the recreation assured of more to come. Federal Reservoirs in Kansas MAP ARTWORK BY DAN KNUPP November 2006 THE KANSAS LIFELINE 65 Kansas Reservoirs . The Kansas Floods of 1951 1951 Kansas floods that inundated find Federal money immediately started “serious” dam much of the state. Despite the became available. Today 18 construction flood control political fervor reservoirs protect the flow in the Politicians became serious created in the disaster’s aftermath, lower Kansas River Basin. At the about flood protection some local political opposition to time of the ‘51 flood, only two immediately after the horrific July the Kansas River Basin reservoirs reservoirs in the lower Kansas Above: The Kansas (Kaw) River at Lawrence remained well into some dam River basin were completed in cresting during the 1993 flood. A June 1993 Kansas Geological Society photo shows the construction, especially at Tuttle Kansas – Cedar Bluff and high water at the bridge linking Lawrence and Creek on the Big Blue River. Kanopolis reservoirs – both on the North Lawrence. Flood control was a major Many local pols were opposed to Smoky Hill River. One in reason for constructing Kansas reservoirs. loss of tax base, town sites and Colorado and two in Nebraska Above right: An aerial view of Perry farm land but the political and were also online but all were Reservoir in Jefferson County, north of general public opposition slowly situated too far above most of the Hwy. 24 at Perry, Kansas. evaporated as previously hard-to- rainfall to do much good. With money flowing and many bad memories of high water guiding voters, 10 additional Kansas reservoirs have been constructed (see map on page 65) in the lower Kansas River Basin starting with Kirwin Reservoir on the North Fork of the Solomon River in 1955 and finishing with Clinton Reservoir on the Wakaurusa River in 1977. Other river basins in Kansas were also afforded reservoir protection. Dams were also planned and built at three locations in the Osage- Marais Des Cygnes River Basin: Pomona, Melvern and Hillsdale Reservoirs. The Verdigris River Basin, in southeast Kansas, had Fall River prior to 1951 but has seen Toronto; Elk City and Big Hill dams start containment, effectively protecting areas far to the south. Dams located in the upper Neosho River Basin have also been built containing waters 66 THE KANSAS LIFELINE November 2006 in Marion, Council Grove and or industrial water supply was a contracts with the Corps for water John Redmond Reservoirs. building block for the future of a storage in 13 of the State’s During early reservoir growing Kansas. The Corps of reservoirs. The contracts are construction in Kansas, the Pick- Engineers option as to whether managed by the Kansas Water Sloan Program component dealing or not to pay the costs for usable Office’s Water Marketing with reservoir use as a municipal reservoir storage space which Department. A benefit of these Above: A 1961 view from Indian Hill at would otherwise be constructed contracts has been that they have Kanapolis Reservoir on the Smoky Hill River in Ellsworth County. for flood control only with no provided ample water for municipal water storage features communities both urban and rural Above right: A view of the dam at Kirwin was a decision easily made by to grow and prosper in the more Reservoir on the Solomon River and Bow Creek in Phillips County. farsighted Kansas planners those populated eastern half of Kansas many years ago. Kansas signed during the last 25 to 40 years. A hot dry week for Kansas – in July 2006 Kansas Water Office Engineer Iona Branscum prepared this report on stream flow last July. After reviewing the USGS web page this morning, it is This office has been coordinating releases with both the apparent that many people in the state are benefiting from the Kansas City District and Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of decisions made by prior administrations. Without the water Engineers. The State has provided input or requested supplies stored within the federal reservoirs, many of the additional releases from the following reservoirs: Milford, eastern streams would have little flow in them and multiple Tuttle Creek, Perry, Toronto, Fall River, Council Grove and municipal and other water users would be implementing water John Redmond. Releases from Elk City Lake are expected to conservation measures out of necessity. be needed by the end of the week. For example, the flow in the Kansas River at the Topeka The following list provides the inflows and outflows gage is above 900 c.f.s. Flow from the tributaries to the respectively from the reservoirs in the Kansas, Marais des Kansas River are providing about 200 c.f.s. Cgynes, Neosho and Verdigris basins. Inflow Outflow Inflow Outflow Inflow Outflow Inflow Outflow Milford 15 cfs 350 cfs Clinton 1 cfs 38 cfs Hillsdale 1cfs 24 cfs Elk City 0 cfs 15 cfs Tuttle Creek 100 450 Melvern 0 20 Toronto 5 12 Council Grove 5 32 Perry 1 25 Pomona 0 15 Fall River 2 8 Marion 0 13 J. Redmond 50 76 I don’t really know the people from the past who provided us with the ability to maintain flow in our streams during this drought, but I thank them anyway.