tuesday, august 26, 2003
news
the university daily kansan 3
3A
High temps, lack of rain activates drought warning
Drought conditions in Kansas counties stretch water supply
By Alex Hoffman
ahoffman@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
While some regions in Kansas are struggling to conserve water, sprinklers at the University of Kansas will continue to run — for now.
A string of 100-degree temperatures and a lack of rainfall have led to severe water shortages in parts of the state. Although 11
counties in northeast Kansas have declared water emergencies. Douglas County is not one of them.
Lieutenant Governor John Moore announced Friday that Douglas County was one of 52 counties in Kansas under a drought warning, but not an emergency. Emergency conditions lead to restrictions in water supplies, but a drought warning only indicates water shortages exist in the county.
Chris Stewart, assistant director of utilities for the city of Lawrence, said the city set a record Saturday by using 28.2
million gallons of raw water taken from the Kansas River and Clinton Reservoir. It also set a record Sunday for 24.4 million gallons of finished water, which is water used for consumption.
The average raw water production in the last seven days, when temperatures repeatedly topped the 100-degree mark, was 26.7 million gallons, Stewart said. Despite heavy water usage, Lawrence has not had to cut back on water production yet.
"We're running at 85 to 90 percent of our capacity," Stewart said. "We're still running in a precautionary mode."
"We're running at 85 to 90 percent of our capacity. We're still running in a precautionary mode."
Chris Stewart
Assistant director of utilities for Lawrance
cautionary house. The University consumed 18.5 million gallons last month alone, said Steve Green, associate director of management information
for the department of facilities operations.
In the summer of 2000, when similar drought conditions struck Lawrence, demand stretched the capabilities of water plants to capacity. Stewart said the demand so far was manageable, but sustained high production could cause the city to consider conservation if drought conditions continue.
By comparison, the city of Olathe has not been able to avoid cutting back water supplies. Olathe issued a water emergency order this weekend that restricted the use of water
outdoors. The order was modified to a water warning yesterday, when demand decreased by eight million gallons from Friday to Sunday. Don Seifert, deputy director of municipal services for the city of Olathe, said residents had heeded the warnings.
"The response has been fantastic," Seifert said. "We hope they respond to the modified warning as they did before."
Although no restrictions have been put into effect in Lawrence, Stewart advised using water wisely and in moderation.
Edited by Scott Christie
Computers seized in fake ID inquiry
By Joe Hartigan jhartigan@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Atruck passes by the site for a new road that will connect US 59 and Kansas Highway 10. The proposed site, Baker wetlands, is a plot of land held sacred by Native Americans.
Four 18-year-old University of Kansas freshmen are at the center of an investigation by the Lawrence Police Department for possible production of fake IDs.
Lawrence police seized two computers, a printer, scanner and several miscellaneous documents and IDs that may be connected to the manufacture and sale of false identification documents from a room in Naismith Hall early Thursday morning. The four students under investigation are residents of Naismith.
Andrew Rider, East Alton, Ill., sophomore and Naismith resident, said if the suspects were making fake IDs, they should be disciplined.
the suspects may have been making fake IDs in Naismith. Olds said he received the information about the potential fake IDs from an anonymous source.
"If there is someone doing it, they should be found out and caught," Rider said.
Police received information just before 9:30 p.m. on Aug.18 from Naismith property manager Jason Olds indicating that
Though charges have not been filed and no arrests have been made, Sgt. Mike Pattrick of the Lawrence Police Department said the seized items were consistent with those often used to manufacture false identification cards. Patrick said the size and scope of any potential fake ID operation was not known.
Olds said the four suspects have not been removed from Naismith because charges have not yet been filed and arrests have not been made.
Patrick said the police were investigating and would submit information to the district attorney once the investigation was complete.
Native state birds may fly from highway
complete. The maximum penalty in the state of Kansas for dealing in false identification documents is 12 months in jail and a $100,000 fine.
By Meghan Brune
mbrune@ku.edu
Kansan staff reporter
Great blue heron and other native Kansas birds may have to find new "hot spots" if the new highway is built through the Haskell-Baker Wetlands.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing the state's plan to build a new 4-lane highway south of Lawrence. The Kansas Department of Transportation expects a decision this month.
But the state doesn't have the money to build, and wetland protection groups are not satisfied with the state's proposal.
The South Lawrence Trafficway would connect U.S. Highway 59 to Kansas Highway 10 south of Haskell Indian Nations University. The road would slice commuter travel time and lessen traffic in the city of Lawrence. But the road would cut through part of the 573 acres of Haskell-Baker Wetlands.
Bob Smith, trafficway project manager for the corps of engineers, said the construction of the trafficway would not damage the wetlands, the Haskell campus or the Wakarusa River beyond
repair.
repair. Jim McLean, director of public affairs for the KDOT, said the state didn't have the $115 million needed to complete the project.
KDOT is operating under the Comprehensive Transportation Program, a 10-year highway construction program started in 1999. This trafficway is not included in the program's budget.
budget. The loss of 50 acres of wetlands has brought dissent from groups such as the Wetlands Preservation Organization. The group's attorney, Bruce Plenk said the land was a historically and environmentally sacred place to Native Americans in the area.
"We are still hoping the state will come to their senses and see that an alternative is available," he said.
In the 1970s, the state had a plan to build a road south of Wakarusa River. In the 1980s, the plan changed, proposing a highway that would run through the wetlands.
Plenk said the highway would divide Haskell students from the
He said he hoped that the lack of money would cause the state to look for other solutions to traffic problems.
wetlands. Plenk said the wetlands were a haven, or "hot spot." for the great blue heron and other native birds at the end of summer.
wetlands that were part of the campus. He compared the walls that would divide the lanes of the highway to separating walls out of history.
"It is a silly idea to put up something Berlin Wall-like when the rest of the world is tearing down walls." Plenk said.
obliems.
To lessen some of the effects of
the road, KDOT has to meet water quality standards, said Scott Satterthwaite, scientist for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The requirements come from the Clean Water Act and will protect the Wakarusa River and the wetlands from run off.
we shall Satterthwaite said the proposal from KDOT should meet the standards.
- Edited by Abby Sidesinge
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