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John Redmond Dredging Initiative

The State of Kansas is proposing to dredge John Redmond Reservoir to restore water supply lost to sedimentation. Information on the project purpose, schedule, funding, public meetings and more will be continuously added to this website. In addition, the responses to several Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will be added to this website.

Your comments and feedback about this activity are welcomed and important. Written comments can be provided to the following:

Katie Patterson-Ingels
Kansas Water Office
Communications Director
901 S. Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612
Katie.Ingels@kwo.ks.gov
(785) 296-3185

Background

John Redmond Reservoir was constructed in 1964 by the Corps with an original design life of 50 years. At construction, the reservoir had a surface area of about 9,800 acres and a water storage capacity of 82,200 acre-feet (AF). In 2007, the Kansas Biological Survey completed a bathymetric survey of the reservoir and concluded that the surface area had reduced to about 8,800 acres with a water storage capacity of 50,200 AF. Decreases in surface area and volume are attributed to sedimentation. Since 1964, John Redmond has lost an estimated 42 percent of its conservation-pool storage capacity as of 2010. The estimated sedimentation rate of 739 AF per year is about 80 percent more than the sedimentation rate (404 AF/year) that was originally projected for the conservation pool by the Corps at the time the reservoir was completed.

Chart John Redmond

Dredging sediment from the conservation pool would restore water supply storage for the benefit of the regional water users and restore the lost aquatic habitat for the benefit of public recreation and the lake ecosystem. The process for initiating a dredging project could be lengthy. To ensure the state is prepared to implement a dredging alternative when necessary, we are taking action now to begin the process.

Current Activity

The Kansas Water Office has initiated a request to dredge John Redmond through meetings and conservations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in 2012-2013, KWO will be collecting additional data, completing the necessary environmental documentation, and conducting several stakeholder and public outreach meetings about the project. All documents developed and meetings scheduled will be posted to this website.

The two key documents the Kansas Water Office will be developing for the dredging activity include:

  • Request for permission to alter/modify a Corps project (33 USC 408)

  • National Environmnetal Policy Act (NEPA) - Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

Request for Proposals

The Kansas Water Office sought proposals for the design-dredge of John Redmond Reservoir through March 19, 2013.  The Scope of Work for this project is to provide a plan with a proposed process, schedule and estimted costs for completing engineering, acquisition of permits, construction of disposal facilities, mobilization and demobilization, dredging and land reclamation. KWO is reviewing the proposals submitted and anticipates awarding a contract in May 2013. Successful bid teams will be identified on this website.

Meetings

  • February 5, 2013 - 9:30 a.m., Meeting at Coffey County Courthouse, Burlington, KS for Dredging John Redmond - Press Release - Meeting Materials

  • February 5, 2013 - 11:00 a.m., Pre-Proposal Conference for the Design Dredge at John Redmond; Coffey County Courthouse (110 S. 6th St.) Burlington, Kansas - Meeting Materials

  • December 3, 2012 - Coffey County Commission, Burlington, KS

  • September 4-6, 2012 – KWO met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to identify the process for dredging a federal project

  • April 17-19, 2013 - KWO presented at the Western Dredger's Association meeting, Midwest Chapter in St. Louis, MO - Presentation

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.Are any alternatives to dredging being considered?

Many short and mid-term alternatives to reduce sedimentation at the lake or increase storage have already or are currently being implemented. Streambank restoration projects on the Neosho and Cottonwood Rivers will decrease the amount of new sediment delivered downstream to John Redmond. After many years of negotiations, a 2-foot pool raise and reallocation of storage is anticipated at the reservoir in 2013. This pool raise will increase the storage available for water supply by approximately 20,000 AF. While these actions have been important steps to extending the life of the reservoir, removal of the already deposited sediment is necessary to ensure a reliable water supply is available to meet the current and future area demands.

Other alternatives to dredging that have been evaluated include construction of a pipeline to transfer water from other areas of the state or region and development of a new reservoir. Based on cost and feasibility, the dredging alternative has been determined to be a more viable alternative.

2.    Who will pay for this dredging activity?

Costs for dredging would be borne solely by the state or other non-federal partners and would include planning, permits and studies, land acquisition, dredged materials disposal area and dewatering area construction, dredging, and disposal management.

3.    How much sediment will be removed?

The plan is to remove sediment at a pace and purpose to maintain storage for current demands. Depending on whether dredging is conducted continuously or as a phased approach, about 600,000 cubic yards would be removed each year.

4.    How long will it take to dredge John Redmond?

Because the goal of the dredging is to restore and maintain storage into the future, removal of sediment will take up to 25 years.

5.    Where will the dredged sediment be placed?

Dredged materials will be placed in uplands within a reasonable hauling/pumping distance from the reservoir. The Kansas Water Office is seeking feedback from landowners in Coffey County and surrounding areas who may be interested and willing to accept the materials on their property.

6.    How can I share my comments or concerns about this activity?

Your feedback and comments are important to the success of this activity. You can provide comments through public scoping meetings (see list of meetings) or contacting the Kansas Water Office:

Katie Patterson-Ingels
Kansas Water Office
Communications Director
901 S. Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612
Katie.Ingels@kwo.ks.gov
(785) 296-3185