Some might consider I was wrong to attack the city of Hays and its water management. Though I applaud the city's efforts on conservation, I can't help but think there isn't something bigger going on out there. States have water fights, and not the fun kind with balloons. Cities out here such as Hays, Russell and every one that you can name have potential difficulties with local water fights. It seems to me with Hays having so many fingers in so many pots concerning water resources that something might just be going on under the table somewhere. That article about Wilson Lake and the Army Corps of Engineers only perks my interest a wee tiny bit.

When I wrote about the concern over a 4-foot drop in lake levels in Wilson Lake, I wasn't playing or joking around. To learn that Hays representatives were present but didn't show much concern, even in this newspaper, frankly, it bothered the heck out of me. This is a call for no small drop. Everyone in this region needs to be concerned about it. Even the fact it was mentioned in the first place is alarming for us all as it is, but to not take a hard stance against it, well, that just reeks of possible profiteering to me.

A drop of the lake level in the magnitude discussed will disrupt the recreation industry that is important to Russell, Wilson, Dorrance, Lucas and others in that area. A drop of this level adversely affects the economics of that county and the surrounding region. This water wasn't propositioned to agriculture but to industries and area cities, some of it far down the line.

I wonder what Haysians might do for fun if a drought returns and lowers the lake an additional 5 or 6 feet in all area lakes as it did early last decade. Where's our glorified tourism industry then? Down the drain. If you take away the places to go here for fun, no one's gonna be coming here for anything. That's part of the sustainability complex. Surely you all can see this?

Last I checked, I referred to eminent domain as a product of government action "southeast of Hays." I know exactly where Cedar Bluff Reservoir is, and it isn't southeast of Hays.

I did not address Cedar Bluff Reservoir as a practice of eminent domain. Unless there is something about Cedar Bluff someone's trying hard not to accidentally address that I don't know about?

Do I think eminent domain criminal? You bet. I'm just as weary of local big-government schemes as I am of those in the national big government. I don't really see much of a difference between the grubby toddler hands in the cookie jar as much different when concerning how far these two gluttons will go to ensure they have enough to drink and eat from the average Americans' well water and food bank (sales and property taxes) to make themselves grow big and, well bigger.

Don't get me wrong, I like this community. But there are certain things about this local government I have never liked. If the city of Hays were really so respective of the water resources around here, why is it ever so thirsty? Chock that up to how water shouldn't be used. We can all do better, especially those with fertilized Kentucky bluegrass lawns. I do posit one more question, for I know that toilets and showerheads aren't the only concern here. Where are the water conservation pamphlets and effluent water and rainwater usage propaganda?

Somebody needed to address it. And someone or something needed to take the blame, that's how this opinion thingy works. Why I remember 10 years back in my sprightly days of 7 when I saw what buckets of water did to ant colonies -- ah how naive I still am about the workings of things.

(Agricultural irrigation and government looking the other way was the real issue in that article, by the way.)

Adam Conkey

413 W. Eighth