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~ o N :\ ~ J ( fiY. r ~ \~f~~ l ~/~ ~. ~ ()- )U\ . -,~ T \V-V ~ \; .'J-,.... .,) \}'P of scenarios f~ ~ater-based recreation, taking to account factors like salinity levels, which can severely limit some of the things people want from the lakes as recreation areas if water levels are not maintained. All of the players understand full well that the big question mark in their plans for the Plains Reservoir is water; they also know that solving the water-level problem will cost money. last summer, the Kiowa County commissioners formed the Great Plains Water Development Authority, with the goal of banding together a variety of different political jurisdictions to establish a funding base and get moving on the water Question. At the present time, Kiowa County is the only signatory. However, they are still working on adding other governmental groups to the authority, and they have hired a full-time employee. The two big Questions the authority will have to answer are: 1. Is there water consistently available so far down in the Arkansas system? 2. If there is, what will it cost? (Some of the figures that have been thrown out are astronomical.) The Kiowa County commissioners seem to be very optimistic, saying there is water available and at a reasonable cost. They believe that.a _ _,",.:".-;-~."C long".tenu leasing arrangement can. be worked out at substant i allyl ower 0"0,; costs than. are being Quoted for water purchases~-perhaps $100,000-$200,000' a year instead of $50-70 million. They are anxious to get moving and are :~ . beginning negotiations with owners of water and trying to get the water authority organized at the same time, so everyone can react to a specific set of parameters. Their problem, of course, is to come up with a perpetual $200,OOO/year for the leasing program. They have considered a mill levy; however, the Division of Parks has suggested that they go to as many sources of funding as possible and raise $3-4 million, which can be used