Water flows freely and easily in parts of Kansas. But in other locations, the splash and splatter of a river is far less frequent. A heavy downpour, though often prayed for by farmers, is rare. Edwards, Ellis, Russell and Stafford counties sit at the bullseye of a major water issue. A wildlife refuge needs water for its migrating birds, farmers need water to manage their crops, industry needs the commodity to increase capacity and local municipalities, Hays and Russell, need water for their citizens. In January, with the help of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, by actions of the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Aurelia Skipwith, said Rattlesnake Creek funding will be used for the development of a watershed plan for the Rattlesnake Creek Basin, which flows into Quivira. NRCS will work with stakeholders to assess the existing resources, evaluate conservation alternatives and develop a plan to conserve and protect the area’s resources, but they will not give the refuge’s senior water rights to them.
Source: Hutchison News.
