The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #138240 Message #3164539
Posted By: JohnInKansas
02-Jun-11 - 11:59 PM
Thread Name: BS: Get'n h2o uphill w/o pump... J-n-Kansas?
Subject: RE: BS: Get'n h2o uphill w/o pump... J-n-Kansas?
Anonymous GUEST speaks forcefully, but apparently hasn't really attempted to use the data cited. Many streams and wells are listed as "rumored," "unevaluated," "owner unknown" and by other unhelpful classifications, and much of the data is from ca. 1920 and reports streams (and even some rivers) that have moved themselves by significant distances since the information was recorded. Especially notable is the number of "free flowing streams" in the record in Kansas that haven't had any water in them since eastern Colorado (and to lesser extent Nebraska) decided that they could ignore the regs and steal all the water that's owned by Kansas.
The USGS data files can be helpful in some cases, but are by no means complete or current in all cases.
A similar situation exists with respect to topographical information, which is available for many areas in great detail EXCEPT that a special program is required to read the data, and the USGS officially states that the program is no longer available because "the guy who wrote it" retired and NOBODY ELSE (at USGS) KNOWS HOW TO MAKE IT WORK.
John