To the editor:

The Kansas Water Authority (KWA) recently heard a report from the Kansas Water Office concerning Kansas River streambed degradation. The report, written by a task force of engineers and scientists, found four major contributors for the streambed degradation: 1) natural causes, 2) Missouri River backwater effect, 3) federal reservoir operations, 4) sand and gravel operations.

All Kansans should care about this issue because a few individuals with political agendas will try to turn this into another bottomless pit for state funding. The effort has already begun. Phase II study was authorized by the KWA after only an hour of consideration.

Kansas University retired professor Wakefield Dort told the task force that science indicates streambed degradation has been ongoing for more than 1,500 years. The principle cause is the erosion of the Missouri River bed. Nevertheless, some people believe we should now overcome the force of nature for the protection of canoeing interests, water intake structures, pipeline crossings, etc. While noble in concept it misses the point.

Members of the water assurance district, Lawrence included, recognized it was far more sensible and less expensive to maintain and modify their facilities from time to time than to try forcing the river to stop being a river. It is the job of the KWA to be thoughtful and considerate in directing the policy of the state concerning water related issues. They did just that in Phase I of the study. It is time to move on to problems we can solve instead of spending taxpayer money to endlessly study ones we cannot.

Kent Weatherby,

Kansas River Water Assurance District No. 1,

Topeka