12
Friday, April 1, 1977
University Daily Kansan
Falling water table affects state according to government report
15y BARRY MASSEY Staff Reporter
The water table in western Kansas declined an average of 3.5 feet last year, according to a recent report by three government agencies, continuing a tind of dwindling ground water supplies that could affect eastern Kansas as well.
The report, issued earlier this month by the Kansas Geological Survey, the Division of Water Resources of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture and the U.S. Geological Survey, states that the water resources in Kansas are unusually dry weather and a continued increase in the number of irrigation wells.
The result of an annual measurement of the depth of water in 1,100 western Kansas canals reflects a growing water supply problem for different parts of Kansas, some officials
IN NORTHWESTERN Kansas (north of the Smoky Hill river) the water table declined an average of two feet in 1976 and increased to foot average annual decline during 1986-76.
In west-central Kansas (between the Smoky Hill river and the Scott-Finney county line) the water table declined three feet in the last week, the average annual decline was two feet.
The water table in southwest Kansas
(south of the Scott-Finney county line) declined an average of five feet in 1976 and four feet in 1975. The average annual decline during 1986-78 was two feet.
Joseph Rosenstein, district chief of the water resources division of the U.S. Geological Survey in Lawrence, said earlier this week, "It's possible that we may see some problems in water supply this summer and we don't get some substantial rainfall."
Drought or near-drought conditions, combined with increased irrigation, have essentially been responsible for the water supply during the past year, Rosenbein said.
And even if above normal rainfall relieves drought conditions, water table declines in western Kansas probably would continue to increase the large amount of irrigation being done.
"The problem is simply that the pumpage is in excess of the recharge," Howard said. "We've done a survey in the Kansas Geological Survey in Lawrence, said last week." "Some people are pumping several times the recharge of their wells. They are in reality maring."
Guy Gibson, chief engineer of the division of water resources, earlier this week said he had heard from a colleague that permits already issued this year were for irrigation purposes. He expects that more
But despite the assurance of a maintained water table, the possible economic effects of an irrigation reduction are serious to the entire state.
He said that as the water table declined it became more expensive to irrigate, and that at a certain point it would be profuse to continue to irrigate because glitter crop yields produced through irrigation wouldn't cover irrigation costs.
John Henderson, deputy chief engineer of the Kansas Water Resources Board, said he knew of a study that indicated 25 per cent of the Kansas City metropolitan economy was directly related to the agriculture of irrigated parts of the state.
Forest of signs used to advertise elections
Although the long-range effects of the declining water table aren't really known, Rosenhein said it was certain the water pressure was completely exhausted by continued irrigation.
In agreement, O'Connor said, "A lot of water and irrigation, so there is a resulting dependence upon irrigation for part of the economy of the state."
Bv GARY BEDORE
Staff Reporter
A person doesn't have to be deeply involved in Lawrence city politics to know that the city has a school board April 5th. Thick patches of wooden signs with different colors and slogans have sprung up throughout the city, informing people of the election and of
Barkley Clark, an incumbent commissioner and professor of law, offered one of the following positions:
Three of the candidates have been involved in city election campaigns before, and they said that wooden signs have been used much more this year. According to figures given by the candidates, 578 signs are scattered throughout Lawrence.
"It's a matter of keeping up with the Joneses," Clark said. "I wasn't going to use many until I saw the other candidates were."
"THERE ARE TREEMOUSLY more signs being used now than when I first ran for commission six years ago," candidate Chris Perry said. "I say there are maybe 20 times as many."
Another incumbent, Carl Mibke, said that the increase use of signs was a sign of the growing use of cell phones.
than 5,000 permits will be issued this year as compared with 3,000 last year, 1,900 in 1972
"THE GUYS WITH MONEY are doing
Mibeek with it, a bigger, tougher
game."
"Every sign we've got, we made," he said. "I wouldn't spend a dime on a sign." Mibec said that wood and paint were done, and that volunteers put the signs together.
Mibeeck he didn't spend anything on
84 sigs, making him the only candidate
who made it to the next round.
THE OTHER CANDIDATES have estimated the percentage of their campaign budgets set aside for signs. Jerry Albertson and his co-founder, Jeff Clark, budget on his 220 signs. Clark said that approximately one-third of his budget was spent on 65 signs. Ed Carter说他 spent 10 per cent of his budget on 20 wooden signs. The rest of his budget on 54 signs took a large amount of his budget.
Muriel Paul said that her 35 signs were an
Events
TODAY: There will be a CONFERENCE on CHILD ABUSE and NEGLECT all day in the Kansas Union. DOUGLAS PARKER, professor at the University of Texas and Archivist, will read "The Barge She Sat in: Plutarch, Shakespeare and Ebobarbus" at 3:30 p.m. in 4021 Wesco Hill. He will meet with the Classics Interest Group for a presentation in the Union on Jayhawk Room. There will be SAILBOAT RACE beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Potter Lake. REYNER BANHAM, professor of history of architecture at the University Man or Roadman will speak on "Universal Man or Roadman Square Hole" at 3:30 p.m. in 3140 Wesco.
TONGITHE; THE CREATIVE FANTASY CABB will play Dungeons and Dragon's Tale.
TOMORROW: A CONFERENCE ON MARRIAGE, love and relationships will meet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Kansas Union. The conference is sponsored by KU-Y. The Women's Studies Advisory Committee will host a workshop on "INTERNATIONAL WOMEN THROUGH FILM," at 9:30 a.m. in the United Ministries Center, 1294 Oral St.
In an effort to combat the problem of a declining water table, Rosenshein said, voluntary conservation measures are important.
iexpensive form of advertising and that is mass operating her campaign on a low budget.
"Signs are cheap and good in terms of recognition of a name," Paul said. "Once you've achieved that, the sings have diminished in value."
Carter had similar ideas on name identification gained from using sigrs.
"It's unfortunate," he said, "but sometimes people vote for a name only, not a person."
THE CANDIDATES SAID that they didn't know how effective the signs were in getting votes but that the signs were a necessary part of campaign advertising.
"An effective campaign takes a combination of signs, newspaper ads and other forms of communication as well," Albertson said.
Several candidates said the use of signs helped citizen involvement in the campaign. Many candidates used volunteers to launch permission when using people's vards.
ONE RESIDENT, Lloyd Davies, 1645 W. 19th St., has two candidates' signs in his front yard. He said that allowing candidates to put up signs was a good way to get candidates' names into the open for people to see.
He said that improved methods of irrigation, more careful use of available water for irrigation, stringent restrictions on the amount of water taken in the amount of water taken from existing wells and in time, changes in crop procedures could ease water supply costs.
"I have no objections to display signs if candidates want us to help them," Davies said. "It's just a chance for candidates to be popular, like advertising in newspapers."
"It's going to take a considerable effort to improve conditions in western Kansas," she said.
'Last year we were just beginning to see the effect of the drought going on in western and central Kansas and there been no rainfall. We are not seeing it, unless there's an increase in rainfall, we're going to experience more problems with surface, and ground water in eastern
The principal forces behind the effective use and control of ground water in western Kansas are five groundwater management districts, quasi-state agencies that have the power to establish and regulate a groundwater management program.
Some of these management districts are now experimenting with various irrigation controls, Harris Mackey, senior engineer of the division of water resources, said. They are planning to run wet runoff conservation and even weather modification such as cloud seeding.
But one major stumbling block in strict irrigation control, Mackey said, is the inability of state agencies to stop further drilling of irrigation wells.
"Under the present law, there really isn't a way to prevent a well from being drilled, and that is why we are calling Mackey said. "But the legislature is considering a bill that would give the chief engineer of the division of water resources the authority of prior approval of all water."
The chief engineer now has the authority to cut back or stop the use of a well only if it is necessary. The chief engineer may
individual, he said.
Although a few problems with surface water supplies are now beginning to appear, Henderson said, the surface water supply, which is still under development of the state, is not cause for much concern.
"Surface water storage is not as bad as it was in the past," he said. "We have more reservoirs and stock ponds than we had during the last major drought in the '50s."
However, many of these reservoirs are facing water shortages, Gibson said, and won't have any water available for irrigation purposes.
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Recognizing the impact of water shortages on both the economy and the daily lives of Kansans, Gov. Robert Bennett is calling for new development programs for water use.
Although much concerning the water situation in Kansas will depend upon the weather, government officials have become aware of the potential problems of water supply and are beginning to focus their attention on possible solutions.
919 Massachusetts
Ph. 841-2995 • Lawrence
"There's concern throughout state government about the decline in the water table and steps are being taken to place bamboo and reeds into the water situation," Rosenhein said. "The problem is now more serious with rural farm use, but we can't just ignore the long-term effect of this. In for some tight circumstances, nor unless we get some heavy precipitation."
BankAmericard or Master Charge
The average and maximum observed water-level declines during 1966-76 are
County Average decline, declines, tint
Cheyenne 8 25
Georgetown 8 25
Finney 11 18
Glenwood 31 15
Gray 15 23
Greersee 13 24
Hamilton 10 31
Hawksill 11 61
Kearny 9 30
Lake 15 15
Madee 15 15
Mesa 17 47
Hawkins 15 18
Seaill 5 18
Scotland 5 18
Seward 18 27
Sherman 18 27
Sherman 16 154
Smaran 17 305
Smaran 22 94
Thomas 9 30
Southall Wallace 25 32
Wichita 35 41
Gewin & Lake 8 22
Decision still up in the air on campaign gimmick
A hot air balloon that rose in front of Strong Hall during Student Senate elections may be forgotten, but the conflict surrounding it remains unresolved.
Feb. 15, Greg Snackne, sophomore class presidential candidate for the Avanti coalition, inflated the balloon because he said he felt it would increase voter turnout. Senate Elections Committee bad banned "political gimmicks" in the election.
The balloon didn't actually carry a banner bearing the coalition name, as the candidates had originally planned. But it wasn't until a campaign rival Vanti campaigners handed out literature.
Schnecke was fined $15, and received a March 24 deadline for paying the fine.
"I don't intend to pay it or to appease it, he said yesterday. 'If they want to present
matter, they can take it to the University Judiciary."
Kevin Flynn, chairman of the Elections Committee, said the fine hadn't been enforced because the committee that had made the decision to replace the new committee hadn't been formed yet.
"Any action will have to be approved by the new committee," he said, "and then it will have to be taken before the University Judicary."
James Masuda, head of the University Judiciary, agreed that the Elections Committee must initiate the action to enforce the fine.
Schnacke said that the coalition had had the right to inflate the balloon, and that the Elections Committee had been wrong to conclude a ruling after the campaign had started.
EXPERIENCED • QUALIFIED • INNOVATIVE
Muriel Johnson Paul for City Hall
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We would like to hear your questions and problems. Call 842-2432
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TO HAVE AND TO HOLD...
An Awareness Conference on Marriage, Love and Relationships Marriage Hollywood Style
Wed.—The Philadelphia Story
Fri.—Adam's Rib
Thurs.—Father of the Bride
Movies in Dyche Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Admission 25c
Marriage 1977... Saturday, April 2 - Kansas Union
Featuring small group presentations/discussions
PINE ROOM
10:00 a.m. ESTABLISHING PERSONAL IDEN-
TITY IN MARRIAGE—
Peter Baldwin  Lynn Moore
Oane Bafour  Dick Derr
Bob Davis
11:00 a.m. SEX AND MARRIAGE: PROBLEMS AND REMEDIES—Diane McDermott
1:00 p.m. WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOU SAY 'I DO'?— Dr.Karlyn Campbell
REGIONALIST ROOM
HOW-TO CLINICS: MARRIAGE
CEREMONIES AND CONTRACTS—
2:00 p.m. TO HAVE OR NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN— Nancy Berry Gary Bryant
3:00 p.m. ALTERNATIVES TO THE TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE— Casey Eike Diana Katt
THE SACRED AND THE TENDER— (Marriage and Religion) Dr. Bob Shelton
THE HOMOSEXUAL RELATION
SHIP—
Todd Van Lanningham
N
Sponsored by the KU-Y. a student organization partially funded by the Student Senate Activity Fee.
THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE—
C.J. Wood
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