The Neosho River’s Regional Advisory Committee is discussing the potential benefits of not just one, but two methods for reducing silt in the John Redmond Reservoir.
In front of the public since February has been a tentative hydrosuction project, essentially siphoning the dirt out of the lake at a much lower cost than traditional dredging. RAC Committee Vice Chair Joe Buchanan says normal dredging is costly for several reasons, including land acquisitionand a place to store the dirt once it’s out of the lake. Besides that, though, John Redmond has already filled in the amount of soil that was removed after dredging scooped out 3 million cubic yards of dirt a decade ago. If it’s ultimately used, Buchanan says hydrosuction is actually not designed to clear all the silt from the bottom of John Redmond.
Buchanan says this is a different way to get dirt out of a lake than what’s happening at Tuttle Creek Reservoir.
For years, the Neosho RAC has been looking at ways to reduce the amount of dirt getting into the Neosho River and then flowing downstream into John Redmond. Buchanan indicates there has been some success, but not as much as one might like.
Which leads to the second potential mitigation measure: oxbows, or areas where the river cuts out a semi-circle and then gradually fills in with dirt. Buchanan says this would re-establish oxbows to a more natural setting than what has been in place for decades after river channels were straightened out.
Buchanan says some of the oxbows would need to be carved out, but he says it’s a relatively cheap process versus other methods. He sees other benefits as well.
If oxbows are selected, Buchanan envisions them going above John Redmond.
Decisions on both steps are pending and remain under discussion.
