BURLINGTON — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a request from the Kansas Water Office to increase water supply storage in John Redmond Reservoir. Because of drought and because of faster-than-expected silting, the storage capacity in John Redmond Reservoir has been declining faster than predicted. John Redmond Reservoir is a source of municipal and industrial supply as well as backup for the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant cooling lake. The state recognized the need to address the high loss of storage and in 1996, requested a reallocation of storage, which was recently approved by the Corps, the Kansas Water Office said. The reallocation will raise the lake’s level by two feet permanently. The change is necessary to ensure the lake remains a viable water source, Tracy Streeter, Kansas Water Office director, said. However, he said even with the reallocation, sediment will continue to accumulate unless dredging is done. Dredging at the lake will begin next year, he said. The state is also working on stabilizing banks of streams and banks above the lake to slow down the rate of silting.
Monday, July 8, 4 p.m.
