Posted on December 5, 2016
By Kyle Smith, KVOE
Engineers completed Phase I of the dredging process at John Redmond Reservoir a month ago, but Phase II hasn’t officially started yet.
Project manager Matt Unruh says they’re still in the evaluation stages of Phase II.
The actual dredging process could begin as early as two months from now, or the evaluation stages could last as long as twelve months. Unruh states that this is the case because dredging depends upon the appropriate funding.
A non-federal entity, known as Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, removed three million cubic yards of sediment from the reservoir and placed them in confined disposal facilities on USACE land and private property. These disposal sites will be returned to the preferred use of the respective landowners after de-watering.
Although Phase I is complete, the finished dredging operations don’t signify mission accomplished in efforts to restore lost water supply.
Director of Kansas Water Office Tracy Streeter says Phase II will mean additional work in the watershed above John Redmond to reduce the sedimentation rate. This is to ensure future water supply demand is met through the next 29 years in the Neosho River basin.
Unruh attended the latest Governor’s Water Conference from two weeks ago, and he said the conference revolved around commending the 14 regional advisory committees. These committees have developed action plans for their various regions, and Governor Sam Brownback would like some of their action plans to start being implemented if applicable.
Source: KVOE
