Great Plains Reservoir Construction
Maps started circulating a month or so ago among those who live along Little North Fork Creek.
They depict what will happen if a dam is constructed north of the Medoc community to create a reservoir that would extend from Jasper County into Barton County.
“It has been the big buzz around here lately,” said Brant Barley, whose family has farmed along the creek since 1904. “This would be a pretty big deal for us. Some people are negative toward it, but you can’t stop progress. I’m sure Joplin will grow and need more water in the future.
“If they compensate us for the value of the land, it would be OK. But it’s more than just the value of the land. This is how we make our living. How will be compensated for that?”
Construction of a dam to create a reservoir could be decades away — if ever. Design work, land acquisition, environmental-impact statements ... all must be done before a shovel is turned. There’s the prospect of eminent domain for those who will not sell their land, and there’s the issue of cost and who would pay for it. Federal sponsorship in the form of an earmark to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would be required...
An important issue in the Great Plains area is reservoir construction. The constructions deals with the uncertain future of water in the Great Plains states. The article above outlines the issues raised in the construction and water transfer of the various river basins in South Dakota, Missouri and Kansas. The issues involved are substantial and serious. The long-term effect on the environment and on the economic viability of communities is a substantial issue which the parties will have great problems in balancing.
