o prepare for this article, I dida little searching on theInternet to get some idea on

how dredging, as we know it today,got started. The Cheasepeake BayJournal provided an overview ofthis history in an article from theirJuly/August, 2000 issue(http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=1322). Harborsthat were naturally swept clean ofsediment by tides and currents areprobably fewer in number thandemand currently “requires”. Thishas probably been true since manstarted trading goods by ship. Thearticle I found states that the principalport of ancient Rome, Lido di Ostia,was subjected to sedimentation andthat Roman engineers likely attemptedto keep the harbor open. How this wasaccomplished is not clear. Betterinformation is available that shows thathuman and horse-powered chains ofbuckets were used in the 1600's in theold ports of Europe. It is documentedthat sediments were being removed (orlikely just moved) in Chesapeake Bayin 1783 and that taxes were beingimposed on ships to pay for it.

For a number of years, Kansanshave recognized that the relative healthof the federal reservoirs is declining.It’s not so much that they are sick,although there have been some issueswith herbicides, algae, phosphorus andzebra mussels in the past, it’s the ageof the reservoirs that is the issue. Mostare middle-aged and headed for thetwilight years. The engineersrecognized that sediment was aproblem and they allowed for it intheir designs. How we wish that therewere a way for them to haveconsidered a 200-year life instead of only 100 years. The smaller

Dredging:Kansas TakesFirst Steps to

ReclaimReservoirs

By Douglas Helmke, LG

Dredging is primarily done for twopurposes today. Navigation continuesto be the primary reason and mining isprobably a close second. Dredgingtechnology has advanced to the pointthat amateur gold prospectors are usingbackpack models weighing as little as40 pounds in small streams. In and nearKansas, there is some dredging doneon the Missouri River for navigationpurposes, but the main use has been torecover sand and gravel from the riverbottoms and the adjacent floodplains.Last year, a new kind of dredgingproject was started in Kansas. Thisproject is water supply restoration.

In and near Kansas, thereis some dredging done on

the Missouri River fornavigation purposes, butthe main use has been torecover sand and gravel

from the river bottoms andthe adjacent floodplains.

The map above shows the bathymetry ofMission Lake. The blue shades representwater depths of zero to four feet; thegreens represent four to eleven feet. Theorange color represents depths of thirteento fourteen feet.

T

Dredging:Kansas TakesFirst Steps to

ReclaimReservoirs

96 THE KANSAS LIFELINE March 2010

plans, and sponsor fundingcontribution. An application filed bythe city of Horton, in Brown County,was approved to be the first projectfunded under this program.

The city of Horton owns MissionLake, which was formed when a daminstalled on Mission Creek in 1924.The city used this lake as its source ofwater for almost 80 years. Because thestorage in the reservoir was

city-owned lakes areprobably older on averageand probably had lessthought put into theirdesigns than the federalones. We need something toincrease the vitality of these sources ofwater for public water systems, and weneed it quickly.

In 2005, the law that created theClean Drinking Water Fee (K.S.A.82a-2101) was amended to allowalmost 2.43 cents of every $.03 centsper 1,000 gallons of water collected bythe fee to be used for the restorationand protection of lakes used as sourcesof water by public water systems. TheState Conservation Commission (SCC)was charged with the responsibility tomanage the program, to adoptregulations and to work with theKansas Water Office (KWO) toestablish application evaluationcriteria. In 2008, the regulations toadminister the Water SupplyRestoration Program were adopted.These regulations allow for funding ofengineering work, repairs of structuresand appurtenances, mobilization ofequipment, dredge and sedimentdisposal facilities and watershedprotection and restoration.

Ranking projects A priority scoring sheet was released

soon after the regulations wereadopted, which is used to screen allapplications. A total of 55 points areavailable based on five elements:public water supply, project condition,recreational need, available studies and

Slurry from the first days of dredging isdelivered to the Confined Se�ling Basin,October 12, 2009.

The dredge on Mission Lakeworks on the sediment in the

upper reaches of the lake.No�ce the dead aqua�c

vegeta�on in the undredgedsec�on of the lake.

As the hydraulic dredge is prepared for reposi�oning, the cu�er-head is raised to thesurface of the Mission Lake for inspec�on by the crew.

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Dre

dge

Am

eric

a, In

c.

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Hak

im S

aadi

, P.E

.,St

ate

Cons

erva

�on

Com

mis

sion

.

97THE KANSAS LIFELINE March 2010

significantly reduced by sedimentation,Horton drilled a number of water wellsoutside of town for their primarysupply about eight years ago. Therewas no guidance available to determineif dredging their own lake was feasibleat that time, but they never gave uphope. If it were to become possible, thecity would save their lake.

Original engineering plans estimatedthat Mission Lake had a capacity of1,866 acre-feet of water when it wasbuilt in 1924. A bathymetric survey bythe Kansas Biological Survey (KBS) in2007 however, estimated that the lake’scapacity was reduced by sedimentationto 1,036 acre-feet, or only 56% oforiginal capacity.

To get this project started, the city ofHorton approved the issuance of abond to raise needed funds. It isestimated that this project will costapproximately $6 million. Theapplication approved by the SCC camewith funding for $2.6 million. Thebalance of this will be paid by the cityof Horton. The city is exploring thepossibility of securing federal loan andgrant funds after completion of a watersystem review by B.G. Consultants,Lawrence, KS.

The bid to do the actual dredgingwas won by Dredge America, Inc. ofKansas City, Missouri. They delivereda hydraulic suction dredge with arotating cutter-head to loosen andremove sediment that has settled on thelake bottom. With sophisticatedcomputers and global positioning

This view of the Confined Se�ling Basin(CSB) from the northwest shows theresults of at least a month’s worth ofdredging. Note that the upper end ofMission Lake is visible in the upper rightcorner of the photograph. Highway 73 isvisible on the west side (lower rightquadrant)of the of the basin.

For progress updates on the Mission Lake Dredging Project, visit theKansas Water Office website at http://www.kwo.org/MissionLake.htm.For information on the Mission Lake Dredging Project and the WaterSupply Restoration Program of the State Conservation Commission,contact Program Manager Hakim Saadi, P.E. at 109 SW 9th Street, Suite500, Topeka, Kansas 66612, by telephone at 785/291-3099, by e-mail athakim.saadi@scc.ks.gov or visiting their Web site at http://scc.ks.gov.

Dredging: Kansas

Phot

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98 THE KANSAS LIFELINE March 2010

believed that Kansas is the only state inthe country with a program to reclaimsmall public water supply lakes.Hopefully, the information that isobtained from this and the projects tocome can be used to justify restorationof our federal reservoirs. If waterstorage space is allowed to decrease, sodo our chances at succeed in the globaleconomy.

Douglas S. Helmke hasbeen the Water Rights

Tech at KRWA since June 2000, and also

Wellhead / SourcewaterProtection Tech since

2003. He holdsprofessional geologist

certification in Kansasand Missouri. Doug received a B.S. degree in

geology from Kansas State University.

Slurry con�nues to be delivered to the se�ling basin in the early days of dredging inOctober 2009. This basin will contain one million cubic yards of sediment when theproject is completed in the la�er half of 2010.

If water storage spaceis allowed to decrease,

so do our chances to succeed in the global economy.

resulting in 1,655 acre-feet of waterstorage in the reservoir. DredgeAmerica’s latest estimate is that thiswill be accomplished by late summer,2010.

This pilot dredging project isproviding the State ConservationCommission with valuable informationneeded to complete additional projectsin the future more efficiently. It is

system equipment, they are able toposition the dredge and removesediment without disturbing theoriginal lake bottom. On average, thepump on the dredge is able to move aslurry comprised of approximately 72percent water and 28 percent sedimentto the Confined Settling Basin (CSB).The Confined Settling Basin is locatedless than one-half mile upstream fromthe original lake. Some parts of thelake over a mile away from the CSBwere dredged.

The slurry of water and sediment ispumped through a temporary pipelineto the settling basin. Because thesediment could have unacceptablelevels of contaminants like herbicides,PCB’s, heavy meals and nutrients, it isnot possible to spread this sediment onagricultural fields, even if someonewas willing to take it. Storing thesediment in the settling basin shouldsecure it for generations. Thesurrounding berm of the settling basinis basically a dam. It contains waterlong enough for the sediment to settleout of the slurry to the bottom. Thewater used to carry the sediment isallowed to flow over a riser and returnto Mission Lake. As the sediment rises,so does the water level at the riser.

The city and project managers hopeto remove a million cubic yards, or 619acre-feet, of sediment from the lake,

99THE KANSAS LIFELINE March 2010

plans, and sponsor fundingcontribution. An application filed bythe city of Horton, in Brown County,was approved to be the first projectfunded under this program.

The city of Horton owns MissionLake, which was formed when a daminstalled on Mission Creek in 1924.The city used this lake as its source ofwater for almost 80 years. Because thestorage in the reservoir was

city-owned lakes areprobably older on averageand probably had lessthought put into theirdesigns than the federalones. We need something toincrease the vitality of these sources ofwater for public water systems, and weneed it quickly.

In 2005, the law that created theClean Drinking Water Fee (K.S.A.82a-2101) was amended to allowalmost 2.43 cents of every $.03 centsper 1,000 gallons of water collected bythe fee to be used for the restorationand protection of lakes used as sourcesof water by public water systems. TheState Conservation Commission (SCC)was charged with the responsibility tomanage the program, to adoptregulations and to work with theKansas Water Office (KWO) toestablish application evaluationcriteria. In 2008, the regulations toadminister the Water SupplyRestoration Program were adopted.These regulations allow for funding ofengineering work, repairs of structuresand appurtenances, mobilization ofequipment, dredge and sedimentdisposal facilities and watershedprotection and restoration.

Ranking projects A priority scoring sheet was released

soon after the regulations wereadopted, which is used to screen allapplications. A total of 55 points areavailable based on five elements:public water supply, project condition,recreational need, available studies and

Slurry from the first days of dredging isdelivered to the Confined Se�ling Basin,October 12, 2009.

The dredge on Mission Lakeworks on the sediment in the

upper reaches of the lake.No�ce the dead aqua�c

vegeta�on in the undredgedsec�on of the lake.

As the hydraulic dredge is prepared for reposi�oning, the cu�er-head is raised to thesurface of the Mission Lake for inspec�on by the crew.

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Dre

dge

Am

eric

a, In

c.

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Hak

im S

aadi

, P.E

.,St

ate

Cons

erva

�on

Com

mis

sion

.

97THE KANSAS LIFELINE March 2010

significantly reduced by sedimentation,Horton drilled a number of water wellsoutside of town for their primarysupply about eight years ago. Therewas no guidance available to determineif dredging their own lake was feasibleat that time, but they never gave uphope. If it were to become possible, thecity would save their lake.

Original engineering plans estimatedthat Mission Lake had a capacity of1,866 acre-feet of water when it wasbuilt in 1924. A bathymetric survey bythe Kansas Biological Survey (KBS) in2007 however, estimated that the lake’scapacity was reduced by sedimentationto 1,036 acre-feet, or only 56% oforiginal capacity.

To get this project started, the city ofHorton approved the issuance of abond to raise needed funds. It isestimated that this project will costapproximately $6 million. Theapplication approved by the SCC camewith funding for $2.6 million. Thebalance of this will be paid by the cityof Horton. The city is exploring thepossibility of securing federal loan andgrant funds after completion of a watersystem review by B.G. Consultants,Lawrence, KS.

The bid to do the actual dredgingwas won by Dredge America, Inc. ofKansas City, Missouri. They delivereda hydraulic suction dredge with arotating cutter-head to loosen andremove sediment that has settled on thelake bottom. With sophisticatedcomputers and global positioning

This view of the Confined Se�ling Basin(CSB) from the northwest shows theresults of at least a month’s worth ofdredging. Note that the upper end ofMission Lake is visible in the upper rightcorner of the photograph. Highway 73 isvisible on the west side (lower rightquadrant)of the of the basin.

For progress updates on the Mission Lake Dredging Project, visit theKansas Water Office website at http://www.kwo.org/MissionLake.htm.For information on the Mission Lake Dredging Project and the WaterSupply Restoration Program of the State Conservation Commission,contact Program Manager Hakim Saadi, P.E. at 109 SW 9th Street, Suite500, Topeka, Kansas 66612, by telephone at 785/291-3099, by e-mail athakim.saadi@scc.ks.gov or visiting their Web site at http://scc.ks.gov.

Dredging: Kansas

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Dre

dge

Am

eric

a, In

c.

98 THE KANSAS LIFELINE March 2010

believed that Kansas is the only state inthe country with a program to reclaimsmall public water supply lakes.Hopefully, the information that isobtained from this and the projects tocome can be used to justify restorationof our federal reservoirs. If waterstorage space is allowed to decrease, sodo our chances at succeed in the globaleconomy.

Douglas S. Helmke hasbeen the Water Rights

Tech at KRWA since June 2000, and also

Wellhead / SourcewaterProtection Tech since

2003. He holdsprofessional geologist

certification in Kansasand Missouri. Doug received a B.S. degree in

geology from Kansas State University.

Slurry con�nues to be delivered to the se�ling basin in the early days of dredging inOctober 2009. This basin will contain one million cubic yards of sediment when theproject is completed in the la�er half of 2010.

If water storage spaceis allowed to decrease,

so do our chances to succeed in the global economy.

resulting in 1,655 acre-feet of waterstorage in the reservoir. DredgeAmerica’s latest estimate is that thiswill be accomplished by late summer,2010.

This pilot dredging project isproviding the State ConservationCommission with valuable informationneeded to complete additional projectsin the future more efficiently. It is

system equipment, they are able toposition the dredge and removesediment without disturbing theoriginal lake bottom. On average, thepump on the dredge is able to move aslurry comprised of approximately 72percent water and 28 percent sedimentto the Confined Settling Basin (CSB).The Confined Settling Basin is locatedless than one-half mile upstream fromthe original lake. Some parts of thelake over a mile away from the CSBwere dredged.

The slurry of water and sediment ispumped through a temporary pipelineto the settling basin. Because thesediment could have unacceptablelevels of contaminants like herbicides,PCB’s, heavy meals and nutrients, it isnot possible to spread this sediment onagricultural fields, even if someonewas willing to take it. Storing thesediment in the settling basin shouldsecure it for generations. Thesurrounding berm of the settling basinis basically a dam. It contains waterlong enough for the sediment to settleout of the slurry to the bottom. Thewater used to carry the sediment isallowed to flow over a riser and returnto Mission Lake. As the sediment rises,so does the water level at the riser.

The city and project managers hopeto remove a million cubic yards, or 619acre-feet, of sediment from the lake,

99THE KANSAS LIFELINE March 2010