Wednesday’s meeting about the condition of the state’s 24 federal reservoirs didn’t produce any startling revelations, but the fact that state officials understand the need to start discussing this issue is an important step.

Forty or 50 years ago when new federal reservoirs were cropping up across Kansas, it seemed that many of our water supply issues were solved. In addition to providing flood control and recreational opportunities, the new lakes provided nearby residents an inexpensive and reliable source of water. Even though officials knew that the reservoirs were only expected to last 50 to 100 years, it was easy to see that as an issue, we could worry about later.

Well, later has arrived.

As reservoirs like Perry Lake and Clinton Lake age, silt and sediment accumulate on the lake beds, limiting the amount of water that is stored there and providing a fertile environment for algae that can affect the taste and smell of the water. Without some kind of intervention, it’s only a matter of time before the reservoirs can no longer serve their intended missions.

How long that takes depends on a lot of factors. Although we have had some dry spells, this area has been relatively fortunate in having sufficient rainfall to maintain the level of our lakes. Serious droughts in other parts of the country, such as the Southeast, have caused severe drops in lake levels and spurred the need for water rationing.

On the flip side, runoff from that rainfall also has carried more sediment into our lakes, and officials say soil conservation efforts haven’t been as successful as they had hoped in controlling that problem.

Although the timeline is uncertain, it is clear that action will be needed to preserve our federal lakes as a municipal water supply. Raising the lake levels or dredging the lake beds are options, but either course would be expensive and take years to accomplish.

However, unless other options are found, it seems we have little choice. Even with increased emphasis on conservation, the demand for water is bound to grow. Ensuring a supply of clean, potable water is essential.

If it takes large sums of money to preserve that resource, we’ll have to find it – which is why we should waste no time in setting a strategy and looking at ways to fund it. Depending on Mother Nature, we may already be getting a late start; we can’t afford to get further behind.