Some days I’d like to return to the sandbox where my brother and I played with his Tonka toys. Or maybe ride with my grandfather on some of his heavy equipment. Life was much simpler then. Those were the days…
Ron Allen (front) begins our tour of Horse Thief Reservoir
At times I was overcome with nostalgia while Ron Allen of Pawnee Watershed District showed us around Horse Thief Reservoir, which is now under construction west of Jetmore, Kan. Since dam permitting processes are growing increasingly difficult, we may never tour such a construction site again. Hubby and I were very grateful for this opportunity.
Playing with sand
Watching the heavy equipment took both of us back to the days when we were playing in sandboxes. I would have loved to have been at the controls of one of these big rigs. But the tour, while wonderful, was not quite that hands-on. This guy got to play in sand — not Hubby and me.
Road above spillway
The spillway pipe at picture’s bottom is 5 feet in diameter. “Tonka toys” paraded across the dam’s wall in a steady stream, which also served to pack the earth even more deeply. Dam is more than 7,200 feet long, stands approximately 86 feet high and contains 2.5 million cubic yards of dirt (enough to cover a football field 500 feet deep).
Dam tower
Before we took this tour, we didn’t realize why all big dams have a tower associated with them. Tower functions as a drain. Duh.
Boat ramp
Boat ramps are already installed, waiting for dam’s completion and filling. Dam’s completion is expected to be this fall, and is forecasted to be full about 4-5 years later, under “ordinary” conditions. A few summers like this blessed rainy one would accelerate the filling, as could a large single snow or rain event. On the High Plains, anything is possible.
Spillway and dam
This is the view across the spillway to the dam.
Bottom of spillway
Ron drove us to the bottom of the spillway. Pretty wild to imagine that where we stood will eventually be covered with water. Talk about looking up from the bottom!
Horse Thief Reservoir is likely the last to be built in Kansas, which is sad. Our drought-prone area could use more water retention areas, not just for recreation. Wildlife benefits from additional water sources, as well as farmers and communities needing access to water. I am continually mystified by the great opposition to storing water for dry days. Any lessening of pressure on the Ogallala Aquifer that gives us the water on which we depend seems to be a positive development.
How I wish my grandfather could have ridden with us.
