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<br />-209- <br /> <br /> <br />().~ ~ ., <br />vUL~ <br /> <br />1::; <br />'J ~.~ <br /> <br />from the Platte River for use in the Little Blue Basin have <br />restricted such actions. <br /> <br />Flooding is a chronic problem on rural lands adjoining the <br />subbasin's streams and at a number of urban and builtup areas. <br />Cities and small towns in the Big Blue and Little Blue basins <br />above Tuttle Creek Reservoir are subject to recurring floods <br />during periods of unseasonably high runoff. Debris clogged <br />channel conditions often compound the problem. <br /> <br />Rural flooding occurs on streamside lands throughout the <br />basin, particularly on the major tributaries. On the Republican <br />River below Harlan County Dam, diminished channel capacity <br />contributes to overbank flooding problems. <br /> <br />A number of cities in Kansas depend on surface water for <br />their municipal supply. During periods of low flows on the <br />Kansas River, the quality of municipal supplies for Topeka, <br />Manhattan, and Lawrence is degraded because of naturally <br />occurring saline concentrations. Also, in some instances, <br />existing storage allocations in Federal reservoirs.in Kansas <br />restrain the State from marketing water to municipalities. <br /> <br />Most smaller towns and rural inhabitants use ground water <br />for domestic supply. The quality of most supplies is marginally <br />adequate, and many rural areas are in need of upgraded systems. <br /> <br />Erosion of several types affects the subbasin's lands. <br />Strearnbank erosion is most severe along the Kansas River, but <br />also affects reaches of the Big Blue, Little Blue, Republican, <br />Smoky Hill, Solomon and Saline rivers. High banks at Harlan <br />County Reservoir on the Republican River are severely eroded by <br />wave action. <br /> <br />Soil erosion and resulting sedimentation are a problem in <br />the northeastern portion of the basin where precipitation is <br />greatest and slopes are more prone to such effects. Wind erosion <br />affects agricultural lands on the high plains of western Kansas, <br />eastern Colorado, and southwestern Nebraska. <br /> <br />Preservation of suitable fish and wildlife habitat is a <br />concern throughout the subbasin. Land available for wildlife is <br />being diminished by agricultural practices, including drainage of <br />wetlands and reduction of fencerows, roadside habitat, and other <br />odd acreages. Wetland preservation is particularly important in <br />Nebraska's Rainwater Basin, an important waterfowl propagation <br />area. <br />