Troublesome logjam growing, 'evolving' near John Redmond
Friday, January 18, 2008
Area residents got some sobering news about the growth of the logjam above John Redmond Reservoir Thursday night in a meeting at the Lyon County Fairgrounds.
The meeting was sponsored by the Lyon County Conservation District, Coffey County Conservation District, Lyon County Extension and Flint Hills RC&D. Several topics were discussed during the meeting including the Watershed Restoration & Protection Strategy and the preliminary results of a logjam assessment study by The Watershed Institute, which is based out of Topeka.
Extra chairs had to be brought out to accommodate the crowd that was interested in the issues brought forth Thursday night.
Brock Emmert, of the Watershed Institute, talked about the preliminary results of the assessment study of the logjam on Jacobs Creek near the Neosho River. The study isn’t finished, but a lot of the study and assessment is done, Emmert said. Emmert said the logjam consumes an entire entrance channel and some areas are so thick with logs and sediment that vegetation is growing on top. The group studied from the Hartford boat ramp to what is termed the “horseshoe.” Emmert said the study group encountered areas where there were up to three feet of submerged logs.
A portion of the study focused on material that is in danger of becoming a part of the logjam.
“We came up with quite a bit of material available,” Emmert said.
The group only counted larger material. In one section, they identified 1,612 leaning trees, 121 standing dead trees and 1,348 fallen dead trees. In another cross-section the numbers dramatically increased. Another 69,871 pieces of woody material were identified, bringing the total up to more than 72,000 pieces of material that could potentially go into the channel in the next flood.
“We know the logjam is evolving,” Emmert said. “It’s like a living creature.”
The river also has developed overflow channels.
“When the river gets (high) it’s not staying in the channel,” Emmert said. “It’s wanting to go another direction.”
Other tasks of the study include identifying and evaluating options for logjam removal, or alternate measures. A piece of this section includes researching similar projects through the United States. One example Emmert used was the Solomon River in Kansas. The logjam in that river was removed and the woody material was used in bank stabilization. A member of the audience inquired about how the removal was done. Emmert said large machinery was used to drive onto the logjam and pull logs off. The cost of that logjam removal was $26,000.
Other aspects of the study include prioritizing alternatives, requesting public comment and preparing the final report.
While removal of the logjam may seem like the best solution, a member of the Kansas Corps of Engineers said it’s not that simple. As the logjam is right now, it’s acting like a sediment trap. If the logs are removed there will have to be another way of controlling the sediment.
WRAPS, which is a voluntary process of bringing together people who live and/or work in a particular watershed area, also was discussed Thursday evening. WRAPS’ goal is to develop, restore and protect watersheds. Peggy Blackman, who serves on the Neosho Basin Advisory Committee, said in the year 2012 the demand for water in the Neosho Basin will exceed the quantity available in John Redmond, Council Grove and Marion County reservoirs. This is largely due to sedimentation, Blackman said.
The formation of WRAPS for the Neosho Headwaters and the John Redmond Reservoir Watershed would address these issues and attempt to come up with a solution. Robert Wilson of K-State Research and Extension said the first goal of WRAPS is to identify the issues.
“What are some of the things you see in your watershed you are concerned about?” Wilson said.
Other goals include identifying the condition of natural resources.
“You all live and work here every day,” Wilson said. “We depend on what you know.”
Issues like sedimentation in the reservoirs affect everybody — the public depends on public water supplies. WRAPS studies all aspects of water use including water quality, water supply, source water protection, recreation, economic development, wildlife and aquatic habitats and other issues that come up locally.
“One of the things we know about water is it doesn’t care about political boundaries,” Wilson said.
Kerry Wedel, manager of the Watershed Unit for the Kansas Water Office, spoke on the topic of watersheds. Wedel said one of the Kansas Water Office’s main responsibilities is to ensure and provide water to citizens.
“The state water office is a planning agency,” Wedel said.
Wedel said sediment is a concern with any reservoir that is constructed.
“Sediment will accumulate,” he said. “In time, it will take away some (water) storage.”
Wasp (anonymous) says...
That's what happens when our looser government comes in and takes over. They make a big mess for everyone
January 18, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )