Representatives from the Kansas Water Office and the Regional Advisory Committees from the Neosho and Verdigris Regions meet to discuss water issues.

 The hot summer weather and prolonged drought conditions in southeast Kansas prompted a meeting of the representatives from these three groups to meet in Parsons yesterday to discuss water issues currently affecting the region. Attendees shared ideas about how to prevent future droughts from becoming critical. Verdigris Committee Member from the Independence Public Water Supply John Garris says that while building new reservoirs is difficult, there may be some similar but less difficult solutions.

Doug Blex from the  Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy or WRAPS, was concerned by the response of some citizens during the water crisis.

Blex says he think getting out the message of the importance of water conservation should be a priority.

Both committees list increasing drought tolerance and maximizing reservoir storage capacity as top priorities. The purpose of the committees is to address water resource issues and what projects would most address those needs.