Marais des Cygnes Regional Advisory Committee

Current Focus Area

Working with local, state, and federal partners to reduce sedimentation, improve education, and evaluate water supply and demand solutions within the Region.

Guiding Principles

The Marais des Cygnes Goal Team believes it is necessary to increase support and resources for sedimentation reduction practices as well as new sources of supply and education to meet the future water supply needs in the MDC region for the next 50 years. Education and water quality were the two most common priorities shared by the public throughout the three public meetings.

About the RAC

RAC Planner: Lauren Campbell

The Marais des Cygnes RAC has 11 members who represent WRAPS, industry and commerce, conservation and environment, agriculture, water assurance districts, planning and zoning, and the general public. View the full Marais des Cygnes Regional Advisory Committee Membership.

The Marais des Cygnes Region is located in the southeast area of Kansas covering all or parts of 13 counties. RAC members meet throughout the year to discuss the vital needs of the region to address water resource issues and what projects would most address those needs.

The Marais des Cygnes RAC has three previously approved goals and action plans to address water supply and education needs throughout the region. Read the full Marais des Cygnes Action Plan. Reference recently approved goals and action plans by the Kansas Water Authority for inclusion within the draft State Water Plan for the Marais des Cygnes and other regional planning areas.

Melvern Dam is located in Osage County Kansas. The earthen dam was built as a flood control project by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It impounds the Marais des Cygnes River, which is notorious for it's destructive flooding, notably the Great Flood of 1951. The reservoir it creates, Melvern Lake, has a water surface of 10.8 square miles and a maximum capacity of 363,000 acre-feet, and the dam itself is 188 feet high.

State of the Resource

This document is a tool to show the ongoing activities and progress towards regional goals and The Vision. For the Marais des Cygnes Regional Planning Area it indicates projected sedimentation and water supply demands may create an insufficient supply for the region. Strategies for securing water supply and reducing sedimentation are vital components of the RACs action plans to ensure safe and reliable access to water.

To learn more about the resources and management efforts, visit the State of the Resource page and view the report.

Marais des Cygnes Fact Sheet

Regional Activities

The Marais des Cygnes RAC is currently evaluating the small public water supply (PWS) lakes in the region that are the water source for those not supplied by the mainstem Marais des Cygnes River. Demand in those areas is being determined, as well as the adequacy of supply provided by the small PWS lakes.

The RAC is also modeling the region to determine supply and demand in the areas that are served by the mainstem Marais des Cygnes River. The outcome of the modeling efforts will determine the need for a reallocation study and/or reservoir management changes.

The RAC has been coordinating with local WRAPS and Conservation Districts, as well as various state agencies to plan educational events, such as soil health field days, in order to improve both water quality and quantity.

Meeting Notes & Presentations