by Bob Kirby Tri-State Water Resources Coalition to secure area water s population surges across Oklahoma joined together to form and Veatch to perform a study to the United States, one of the the Tri-State Water Resources examine area water supply needs foremost concerns heard is Coalition. The to the year 2050 water supply. On the goal of the and available water evening news, water stories coalition is “to supply options in about major metropolitan develop a the area. On Aareas such as Phoenix, Arizona good quality September 29 the and Las Vegas, Nevada are water resource results of the common. These arid regions face to provide for $200,000 study seemingly insurmountable issues the area were revealed to to supply the people who live there with adequate water. Right here in Kansas water issues are very prevalent on the minds of the populace, particularly in the western areas. The last few years however that concern has moved a little further east. New area of concern Recently, water suppliers in southeastern Kansas have had a heightened awareness of water issues. Deep aquifer water The towers and supplies have state border shown disturbing signs represent trends due to water and the increased geographic demands here in relationships in Kansas and the area. In 2002 across state lines water suppliers in Missouri and and other Oklahoma. In interested parties November 2004, formed the Tri-State Water Bob Kirby the State of Resources Coalition. The group Tech Assistant Kansas issued a is composed of representatives moratorium on from Kansas, Missouri and any new appropriations in the Oklahoma. The goal of the Ozark Aquifer in order to study group is to ensure a long-term the adequacy of the resource. In water resource for the area. Missouri, which is a riparian communities and facilitate the public during a meeting state, no such orders were made economic growth of the held on the campus of Missouri but suppliers there could also see geographic area.” Southern State University in the writing on the wall. Joplin, Missouri. Information and alternatives Suppliers organize According to the recently The coalition, along with the released study, the population of In 2002 area water suppliers United States Army Corps of the area is expected to grow from from Kansas, Missouri and Engineers, hired the firm of Black 80 THE KANSAS LIFELINE November 2006 approximately 300,000 currently to • Truman Lake, Missouri Each of the possibilities has 500,000 by the year 2050. A new • Table Rock Lake, Missouri major issues to be resolved. The water supply source and additional • Grand Lake, Stockton Lake Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in water treatment facilities capable and Table Rock Lake Oklahoma has an adequate of meeting an additional 66 million combined amount of storage available at 181 gallons per day of demand with the New Reservoir million gallons per day but the ability to handle peak demands of • State of Oklahoma has issued a 132 million gallons per day are projected as needed to accommodate this growth. After review of the six alternatives mentioned above, there were Surface rather than ground water three possibilities which the group felt were most viable due The Coalition felt that area to factors such as cost, location and availability of discretionary ground water supplies would not likely be able to handle this storage. They were the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Table additional demand so in turn decided to pursue surface water Rock Lake and the construction of a new reservoir. alternatives. Currently utilized surface water supplies in the study After review of the six area do not have the capacity to moratorium on the transfer of alternatives mentioned above, meet current demands in some water across state lines. This there were three possibilities areas during drought periods and option would require the which the group believed were certainly would not meet the Oklahoma legislature to give most viable due to factors such as projected demands. With this approval before the coalition cost, location and availability of information the study focused on could move forward in obtaining discretionary storage. They were the following six alternatives: water from this source. the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, • Grand Lake O’ the Table Rock Lake in Missouri Cherokees, Oklahoma Table Rock Lake and the construction of a new reservoir. has 35 million gallons per day of • Stockton Lake, Missouri available storage but due to the November 2006 THE KANSAS LIFELINE 81 Tri-State Water . geographic location of the location, cost and numerous other According to the study, the initial reservoir the water would need to aspects pertaining to its construction. cost of piping water from Grand be pumped across a very high Development of any water Lake to the area is estimated to be ridge to supply the study area. A source is expensive, particularly $1.2 billion. If Table Rock Lake new reservoir will require further when developing a source to were pursued, the initial cost is study to determine the size, cover a large geographic area. estimated to be $1.8 billion. Above: The future of any economic development in southeast Kansas will depend on the availability of an adequate water supply. This is an issue in communities in southwest Missouri and northeast Oklahoma as well. Above right: Milton McCabe, environmental scientist with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources and J.W. Stephenson, district manager, measure the depth to water in a well at Rural Water District 2 in Cherokee County in June. There is an ongoing study in the area to create a model of the Ozark Aquifer and assist in determining the future viability of the resource. With the future of the current East Jordan Iron Works, Inc. water supply in question and the exorbitant cost of developing a “We Cover the Infrastructure” new source, the chairman of the coalition, Bob Nichols, stated, Proudly Made in USA since 1883 “The next water we get is going to be very expensive and we’d be well advised to save some of this cheap water and use it wisely. The fact remains we’re going to have to learn what the word (conservation) means.” This was one of many frank opinions offered those attending the meeting. Attendees of the meeting from Kansas included Tim Gintner, chairman of Crawford County Rural Water District Number 1. Gintner, like many representatives from water suppliers in southeast Contact the sales office nearest you by calling Kansas, has concerns about the 1-800-MANHOLE, or visit www.ejiw.com. proposed project. After hearing 82 THE KANSAS LIFELINE November 2006 the proposals he had this to offer, States Geological Survey, in Student Union to release results of “With the many resources cooperation with area the study to date and receive available in the region such as the stakeholders, have been public input. All area suppliers Spring River, Neosho River and developing a model to determine were encouraged to attend. Shoal Creek not able to meet water levels and flow patterns The future of the tri-state area, demands and having such low throughout the area. like anywhere, depends on the stream flows, how will these same resources be able to maintain levels in a new reservoir? With the “The next water we get is going to be very expensive initial cost on all of the options as high as it is to the consumer, I and we’d be well advised to save some of this cheap don’t know how a rural water water and use it wisely. The fact remains we’re going district or city can afford it. The initial costs of the project alone to have to learn what the word (conservation) are more than anyone can afford.” means.”– Bob Nichols, coalition chair In response to the concerns over the declining ground water levels in the Ozark Aquifer, the A total of 251 wells in the availability of an adequate, clean Kansas Water Office initiated a study area have been measured water supply. Water is a resource study to determine the viability of and historical water use data has that does not recognize political the Aquifer and monitor water been reviewed. Well water level boundaries. In dealing with the levels in the tri-state area. The measurements continue while the issues presented by its limited Kansas Department of development of a model is taking availability the users of the Agriculture, Division of Water shape. A public meeting was held resource in this area must see past Resources, the Kansas Geological in Pittsburg on November 8, 2006 the boundaries presented as well. Survey along with the United at the Pittsburg State University November 2006 THE KANSAS LIFELINE 83.