Reservoir Sustainability Initiative

Federal reservoirs are an important source of water supply in Kansas, providing water in some manner to roughly two-thirds of Kansas’ citizens.  The State of Kansas owns storage in thirteen federal reservoirs operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The ability of the reservoir to store water over time is diminished as the capacity is reduced through sedimentation.  In some cases reservoirs are filling with sediment faster than anticipated.   Whether sediment is filling the reservoir on or ahead of schedule, it is beneficial to take efforts to extend the life of the reservoir. 

Efforts are underway to better understand the sources, transport and deposition of sediment through monitoring, research and assessment activities and consideration of enhanced management strategies.  Activities are also underway to better operate the reservoirs to meet anticipated water supply needs.  These efforts are part of a Reservoir Sustainability Initiative that was recently approved by the Kansas Water Authority.  Two policy issues, Enhanced Stream Corridor and Wetland Management to Address Reservoir Sedimentation and Surface Water Management: Access to Storage, are being proposed for discussion to enhance ongoing efforts to manage reservoirs, their watersheds and the supply available from those reservoirs.  Both of these are in the preliminary draft stage as shown on the flowchart. There will be public meetings in conjunction with the basin advisory committee (schedule) meetings in May.  

The graphic identifies the components of the Reservoir Sustainability Initiative within the context of a hypothetical watershed.  The components proposed for enhanced policy development are highlighted in red.