To the editor:

Your editorial of Sept. 2 asks several questions:

1) What’s more important, water for people or water for barge traffic?

2) Why does the barge business deserve special treatment?

3) Will the Corps of Engineers continue to have priority over draining reservoirs regardless of whether such action endangers the local water supply?

Clinton reservoir is a federal facility, paid for with federal dollars, that holds 368,700 acre-feet of water (1 acre-foot equals 325,851 gallons) and has several uses: 21,200 acre-feet (6 percent) for maintaining minimum water flow in the downstream portion of the Wakarusa; 89,200 acre feet (24 percent) for public water supply (which isn’t all subscribed yet); and 258,300 acre-feet (70 percent) for Corps of Engineers flood and flow control throughout the Mississippi watershed. The federal facilities at Milford, Tuttle Creek and Perry have similar water allocations.

Seventy percent of the water in Clinton is for downstream uses (including the barge industry). Not all the water available in Clinton for public water supply has been allocated. However, contractors for that water will have to 1) pay for it, and 2) know that the contract only lasts 25 years.

Clinton is silting in five times faster than anticipated. Without maintenance, it will silt in and no longer hold any water for any use.

I do agree with your closing statement: “It’s not too early for those looking to the future to study what can be done to make sure there are ample supplies of water to meet expected future needs.”

Larry Kipp,

Lawrence