|
|
|
Water, energy meetings slated for DecemberKansas "Water and Energy: Reduce, reuse and recharge" is the theme of the second annual Kansas Water Issues Forum scheduled for December. The dates and locations of the forums are Dec. 10 at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center, 7001 West 21st Street North, Wichita, and Dec. 11 at the Kansas State University Agriculture Research Center 1232 240th Avenue, Hays. The meetings are free and open to the first 150 members of the public to preregister for each location. To see the agenda or to register, go to www.kwo.org, and click on the Water and Energy Forum button. "An outstanding lineup of speakers will address the hot topics of the day, particularly the close ties between water and energy development, use and conservation," says Tracy Streeter, Director of the Kansas Water Office. There will be presentations from experts in water and energy issues in the morning, followed by three breakout sessions with a town hall discussion format. A highlight of the day may be the afternoon debate on the resolution: "The free market provides the most efficient and equitable manner to distribute water resources and energy supplies." Questions from the audience will be taken by the debaters. The audience will be polled before and after the debate on their stance on the resolution. Speakers include Karl Brooks, University of Kansas associate professor of history and environmental studies; Martin J. "Mike" Pasqualetti, professor of geographical sciences, Arizona State University; and Doug Karlen, USDA's Agricultural Research Service; and Michael Hightower, Sandia Labs. Brooks will discuss the importance of timely development of a water and energy policy; Pasqualetti, the relationship between water and renewable energy, energy trade and power plant technology; Karlen, the effects of biofuel feedstock production on soil and water; and Hightower, the challenge of competing demands for water and its effect on electric power generation. At each location, the afternoon's program also will include breakout sessions. The two topics common to both locations are "Water Harvesting in Kansas: Will it Work?" and "Biofuels: What are the Environmental and Economic Impacts?" In Hays, the third topic will be "Republican River Compact: What Happens after We Get the Water?" In Wichita, it will be "Expense of Water Treatment: Is there a Better Way?" After the forums, attendees and other members of the public are invited to offer their opinions at a public hearing that will begin at 4 p.m. One hearing topic is a new policy proposal to extend the life of the federal reservoirs through sediment reduction by way of stream bank stabilization and wetland and riparian area protection. The other is the five-year update to the Kansas Water Plan. "Combining the two activities offers those interested in water issues a chance to both learn and actively participate in one location on a single day," Streeter says. "The Kansas Water Plan covers a wide spectrum of water-related issues. Knowing that many of the people concerned with water will be at the forums, we wanted to make it convenient for them to participate." The updates to the Kansas Water Plan are posted on the Kansas Water Office's website at www.kwo.org. Comments received at the hearing and through 4 p.m., Dec. 23 will be considered by the Kansas Water Authority at its Jan. 29 to 30, 2009 meeting in Topeka prior to adopting the updated 2009 Kansas Water Plan. The Kansas Water Office address is 901 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66612 or e-mail to kwo-mailer@kwo.ks.gov and note "December Public Hearings" on the e-mail subject line. If testifying in person at the hearing, please bring a written copy of the testimony. 10/27/08 Date: 10/23/08 Advertisement
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2009. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
Market Snapshot Inside Futures |
