SPECIAL TO LONGHORN
LOCAL NEWSWater rights office to open in Parsons
Office staffed by environmental scientist
By The Sun Staff
Water rights holders in the area can now save the gas money a trip to the Division of Water Resources field office in Topeka used to cost them.
An extension office will open Monday at 300 N. 17th in Parsons, according to a Kansas Department of Agriculture release.
Public information officer Lisa Taylor said water rights holders now have to conduct business in Topeka, by telephone, mail or Internet. Sometimes, a sit-down meeting is more efficient, she said.
"This satellite office will make our services more accessible to water right holders in this area," said David Barfield, acting chief engineer of the division of water resourcess.
The office will start with one environmental scientist. Ultimately, the division of water resources hopes to add an engineer from the water structures program, Taylor said. The water structures program regulates man-made structures and activities that change the flow of streams.
The satellite office will offer water right reviews, compliance checks, field inspections, well monitoring, water rights education and help with water rights applications and water use reporting.
Because the office will be staffed with one scientist, appointments are encouraged.
Call 421-2697 to schedule one.
Next stop, the courts; I think this goes to the Kansas Court of Appeals, but it may go to the Shawnee County District Court first; I'd need to research, and don't really want to right now.
I think the sign above Dante's ninth inferno is appropriate when trying to deal with these groups. "Abandond hope all ye who enter here".
I'll be curious to see how much this agency extention office is A) public relations B) enforcement of existing water rights and/or C) A way to help consumers find their way around waterworld, kansas style.
All three are needed. I suspect there may be some crackdowns on water rights usage in the near future. Since David Pope OVER appropriated water rights for over twenty years, there just isnt enough water to meet all the existing rights, and that is true in places other than the west.
Sooner or later, the junior rights will have to be shut down. Look for the term "first in time, first in right" to become a problem, as that is what all water law in ks is based on.
The term "beneficial use" is defined as the BEST use of water for the common good, not just for senior water rights holders. But guess who benefits from senior water rights? Mostly cities, from east to west, and big irrigation, which has been raping the water and banking the proceeds for some time. They will squeal like stuck hogs if "first in time" is ditched (heh) in favor of "beneficial use".
Of course, given our gutless state government, the need for campaign cash from big ag and bigger communities, and the even MORE gutless nature of all those Kansas water entities, WHO TF is gonnna have the fortitute to MOVE us from "first in time" to "beneficial use"?
Why do I feel more chaos before sebelius et al run out the clock on water issues? I hope evolution allows your grandchildren to live on very little water.
As for the Sunflower plant and water issues, I have been screaming about this all along. The carbon issues can be dealt with using better technology. It just isnt ready yet. But... the need for 30,000 acre feet of water rights they purchased, and intend to use, will NOT go away. The carbon thing is trendy now, which says a lot given that the water problems this, and the associated ETHANOL plants, are the more serious problems.
SO of course, any bright and shiney object will do to distract from it. Notice, even Steve Miller says that it is the ETHANOL plants that are driving the need for electricity in Kansas.
But should those ethanol plants not be built, which looks likely given how other states are cutting back, I imagine they will find a market for all that excess capacity and power in, oh, say, eastern Colorado?
Which of course was the plan all along.
Steve Miller saying ETHANOL! ETHANOL! is like the repukes saying BILL CLINTON! BILL CLINTON!
end/rant.
For now...
I wasnt even on the computer yesterday. Why? Well, irony of irony, my well quit yesterday morning. Cha ching, cha ching. It required a new pump, since the old one was over 30 years old. Now there is an electrical problem. We (my new roomie and I) pulled the pump, got the parts, replumbed it, rewired it, and then got stuck in a wiring problem that now, (sigh) requires the services of a REAL electrician who is on his way to Downer Creek even as I type.
Damn. Ya know, farm girls hate when they cant fix something! And electricians? DOUBLE cha ching. But what else to do? I have thirsty cattle, and thirsty chickens. The dogs and cats and humans have water to drink, but not wash. Ewwwwwwww..... And dont forget, the toilet needs water to flush as well. Good thing we still have an outhouse :(
It's turning into pigpen central here quite rapidly. I always joke about living like a feral animal or a "bachelor Norwegian farmer" but damn now it really is true!
Anyway, I'll be back when the water flows in the house, not just down at the creek. I had to haul water by hand to the chickens last night and today. The thirsty chickens are also quite angry. I hope they appreciate it, but mostly, they just bitched at me with their beaks full of water.
hehehehehhe....
Loading....