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<br /> <br />. <br /> <br />',;:> <br />.) <br />'~ <br />GI!) <br />0':1 <br />~ <br /> <br />(2) As a matter of basic policy concerning the water resources <br />of the state, the state of Kansas declares its intention <br />to coordinate state planning with local and national <br />planning and to undertake the resolution of any conflicts <br />that may arise between the water policies, plans, and <br />projects of the federal government and the water policies, <br />plans, and projects of the state and its people. <br /> <br />Basic Water Problems <br /> <br />The two most important problems relative to water resources are: <br />(1) depletion of the ground water supply in western Kansas, and <br />(2) degradation of the water quality by sediment, brines, and minerals. <br /> <br />Ground Water Depletion <br /> <br />Irrigation development continues to expand in the western part of <br />the state, and most of this expanding development is supplied from <br />ground water sources. However, the ground water reservoirs are not <br />being replenished at a rate approaching the rate of water withdrawal. <br /> <br />This mining or depleting of the water resource is of particular <br />importance in the state's future growth and development. The continued <br />availability of water is the key to the state's billion dollar irriga- <br />tion agriculture base, the stability of the social fabric of the region, <br />and a major source of state revenues. The lack of adequate water <br />resources can act as a constraint to the physical development pattern <br />of the state and its economic base. However, the threat of depletion <br />could provide the catalyst for new technological and economic change, <br />and this could provide new development opportunities. In short, the <br />manner in which the ground water resource is managed will determine <br />whether the state will realize growth or non-growth as a result of <br />changes in water resource levels. <br /> <br />Water Quality <br /> <br />Natural water quality of the streams and subsurface waters of <br />Kansas varies greatly over the state. The natural quality of the <br />streams of Kansas is quite poor when one defines "poor" as a condition <br />relating to high mineral concentrations which cause problems such as <br />hardness, pipe corrosion, industrial process interference, and public <br />health problems. In addition to these natural pollutants, some of <br />this mineral concentration is the result of uncontrolled discharge of <br />brines which were pumped with oil in the early periods of oil <br />exploration in Kansas. These brines were released to the surface of <br />the ground in those early days and in some areas are still continuing <br />to leach out of the soil, thereby continuing to contribute to water <br />quality problems in some streams. Natural salt seeps and springs also <br />exist in the state, and these also contribute to water quality problems <br />in some areas. <br /> <br />22 <br />