KU Economic Policy Conference to focus on cost of water to Kansans Oct. 24

LAWRENCE -- Three Kansans with careers knee-deep in water policy issues will be among those participating in the Kansas Economic Policy Conference Friday, Oct. 24, in the Kansas Union at the University of Kansas. The conference will examine the role of water in the state's economy.

For these Kansans the need to focus on the costs of water to Kansans is a no-brainer. They are Hannes Zacharias, assistant manager for Johnson County and former city manager of Hays; David Traster, attorney with Foulston Siefkin LLP in Wichita; and David Brenn, executive director of the newly created Kansas Water Congress. Zacharias and Traster also serve on the Kansas Water Congress.

"Water is the lifeline for Kansas. So goes the water, so goes the jobs in this state and so goes the economy," says Zacharias, a panelist for the upcoming economic conference.

Traster, who represents water right owners, agrees. "We need to focus on sound water policy that recognizes the economic realities."

Traster will be one of four major speakers at the Kansas Economic Policy Conference. He will talk about the need for planning for the inevitable crash that will come if western Kansas runs out of water. "I don't have the answers, but we have to find them and figure out how to pay for the solution. It's going to be expensive, but something has to be done."

Conference topics will include a history of water's role in the development of Kansas; current water policy, management and problems; water availability for agriculture in the west and increased growth in the east; and the effects of water availability, quality and management on community growth and economic development in the future.

Other speakers include Donald Worster, Hall professor of U.S. history at KU whose books include a history of the Dust Bowl; Earl Lewis, civil engineer with the Kansas Water Office; and James Gulliford, administrator with the Kansas City, Kan., regional office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Traster, who has roots in Ulysses in southwest Kansas, and Zacharias, with roots in Dodge City, agree that if the water dries up in southwest Kansas, so does the economy -- not only for southwestern Kansas but for the entire state as well.

Zacharias notes, "There are two different Kansases as far as water is concerned. In western Kansas water is critical. It's a different situation in eastern Kansas, where the needs have to do with the quality of water and regulation."

Traster says, "There's no place like southwestern Kansas -- it's an incredible economic machine and it's fueled by the Ogallala," the aquifer that provides water for much of western Kansas.

Water is essential to growing the grain that fattens the cattle that are slaughtered for shipment to markets around the world, he explains. "The success southwest Kansas enjoys ultimately affects all of us," Traster says.

Another southwest Kansan, David Brenn, executive director of the Kansas Water Congress, a former Garden City resident, also will participate in KU's annual economic conference.

Brenn says he believes Kansas is not unique in managing water resources to maintain economic stability but that it is in better shape than some states. "We must realize that Kansas is heads and shoulders above many western states with its policies for water."

One of the problems is that the water policies and water-quality issues of other states also affect Kansas, Brenn says. "Our state is not in a vacuum. We need to look at the broader scope."

Information and registration are available at www.kuce.org/programs/kepc; by phone: (785) 864-KUCE (5823) or toll free (877) 404-KUCE (5823); or through e-mail: kuce@ku.edu.

The conference is presented by KU's Policy Research Institute and KU Continuing Education and is sponsored by the League of Kansas Municipalities.