Officials asked to contribute to reservoir study
Approximately 20 city and county officials and residents attended an information meeting July 19 regarding a grant program for improved water quality at Marion Reservoir.
Peggy Blackman, coordinator of Marion Reservoir WRAPS (Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy), asked officials for assistance in the project to slow down or stop sediment seepage in the reservoir.
A total of $75,200 is needed for matching funds for the grant. Blackman asked the county and cities of Hillsboro and Marion to split the costs.
Officials from KDHE Bureau of Water, Kansas Water Office, and the Watershed Institute, Inc. presented information to the officials.
A grant has been awarded to WRAPS for a study to determine the amount of sediment that has occurred since the last study that was conducted in the 1980s. This study can determine the rate of sediment which will assist in implementation of a program to reduce or eliminate continued sediment issues.
As part of the grant, in-kind and cash matching is required from participating entities.
This study also will address blue-green algae bloom which has caused taste and odor problems for the cities who use the reservoir as a source of drinking water.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, will not have the funds in its 2007 budget to continue water quality monitoring as in the past three years, said Blackman.
Funds could be made in the Marion Reservoir budget for sediment core sampling and analysis but it would take congressional action and local political requests to add the funds.
If this is not possible, Kansas State University, Kansas Biological Survey, and United States Geological Survey could conduct the work.
Marion County Commission discussed participation Monday during its regular meeting. No decisions have been made yet by either city to participate.
