WSP09060 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

An increasing proportion of the state's requirements for water over the projection period will occur in rhis region (Table 4-9). In 1965, less than eight percent of the total water withdrawn in Kansas was in this region. By the turn of the century the percentage may increase to II percent and by the end of the forecast period could exceed 14 percent. Irrigation, now in the early stages of development, is expected to expand rather rapidly in this region. By the end of the forecast period irrigation may account for 69 percent of the water requirement in the region. Water use by people and manufacturing will constitute the next largesr water use in this region. The total water requirement is expected to increase from 250,600 acre-feet to 2.3 million acre-feet by the year 2020--almcst a tenfold increase. Region 5 Region 5 is composed of nine counties in south-central Kansas generally west of Wichita and Hutchinson. The area is primarily an agricultural region special izing in large-scale crop farming and cattle raising operations. This region had a population of 83,600 people in 1965. Great Bend, the largest city, has a greater population than the combined population of the next three largest cities--Pratt, Larned, and Hoisington. The total population of the region has been stable since 1940; however, the population of all counties except Barton and Pratt has decreased over the period. There has been a widespread drop in rural population and a subsequent growth in the region's four largest cities. Existing industry is geared to agriculture, machinery, printing and publ ishing, and natural resource extraction and processing. Natural resources include oil, natural gas, he] ium, magnesium, halide brines, clays, sands and gravels, gypsum, and salt. Nearly two-thirds of the region is in cropland which produces wheat, sorghums, and legumes. Average farm size has increased from about 500 acres in 1940 to over 860 acres in 1964. The level of economic activities forecast in Region 5 reflects characteristics which were present in the immediate past. The region's population is expected to grow at a rate much lower than the state as a whole. The 1965 population of 83,600 is expected to increase to 104,600 by the turn of the century and further increase to 149,600 persons by the end of the forecast period. This is an increase of 180 percent, whereas the state population is expected to increase by 210 percent. The three larger cities in the region (Great Bend, Larned, and Prat.t) affect the economic trends. Several of the rural counties show I ittle or no growth prior to the turn of the century. The forecast of agricultural output shows an increase from $117 mill ion in 1965 to $386 mill ion by the end of the forecast period. Livestock should account for nearly 56 percent of the agricultural output by year 2020. Agricultural employment wil I continue to decl ine throughout the projection period. Manufacturing is influenced by 42.