The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-20
Hers BELOW NORMAL.
But IS Ponds Are Full of Clear.
Cool Water.
Prof. Dyche Is Not Alarmed in
the Least.

Pratt, Kan, Aug. 20.-Eight ponds
at the Kansas state fish hatchery at
Pratt are today bone dry, eight more
are out of commission, 1s show a nor
NAL water supply and the remaining
SO pools are carrying three to five
feet less water than under normal
conditions. The little Ninnescah river,
at present about eight feet wide and
two feet deep, supplies the flow for
nearly 80 acres of solid water at the
hatchery. The stream carries the bur-
den of the future of the states big
$2OO,OOO fish plant. Yet Professor 7.
l.. Dyche, state fish and game warden,
declares that the stream is an unfail-
ing source of supply, that more water
Is being received than is really needed
and assigned reasons for the present
conditions of the ponds.
Many conflicting reports have come
from Pratt regarding conditions at
the hatchery. 1t was claimed that
some of the ponds were dry and thai
others would soon be dry, unless au
unusually heavy rainfall was received,
and that the plant generally was in
deplorable condition. These condi-
hons were denied most emphatically
by the state fish and game warden.
This week a State Journal representa-
tive personally visited every pond at
the hatchery, made measurements
studied conditions and talked with
Professor Dyche, Deli Travis, former
fish and game warden, and with
number of the older residents of
Pratt who have for years observed
the water supply from the Ninnescah
river.
The oldest inhabitant of Pratt never
saw the Ninnescah dry. Some of them
have seen the river just as low
lower than at this time and then there
are statements to the effect that the
Ninnescah today is but skeleton of
her former self and that white man
never saw the stream so low. Profess
sor Dyche says that Professor Hoag's
statement is to the effect that the
river will at all times supply ample
water for the 80 big fish ponds.
And so. with some of this informa-
tion at hand, the reporter went to the
big intake pipe near the Pratt fair
grounds. Here a dam has been bull.
that the 81 inch intake pipe may have
every advantage in securing adequate
water supply for the states properties.
Near the intake pipe the Ninnescah
river is six to eight feet wide. In
places the water is two to two and n
half feet deep. A SLOW steady stream
of about 5 inches of water enters the
pipe.
Big Ponds in Fine Shape.
A mile and a half southeast of the
fair grounds. the big water main
empties over concrete base into the
big receiving pond of the hatchery.
With a rule in his hand. the reporter
found a stream of water two and a
fourth inches deep entering the ponds
opening six feet wide. The
big receiving pond was in excellent
shape and was carrying six feet of
good, fresh, pure water right from the
headwaters of the Ninnescah two
miles above Pratt.
The receiving pond is at the ex-
treme west end of the states 200 acre
property. 1t drains through screened
/.
80 adjoining ponds-or such of them
as are able to receive any of the sup
ply. The receiving pond is at leas.
eight feet higher than the lower pools
and a natural drain is furnished when
ample water is provided.
At least II ponds were receiving a
supply from the big two acre receiv-
ing pond. and their water line indi-
Gated that they were in practically
normal condition. The water an
of from 6s to so degrees.
Then through patches of alfalfa and
the reporter walked TO
other ponds. Along the main road
east of the hatchery, one may see sew
eral dry and practically valueless
ponds, so far as their use at this time
is concerned. At least four of the
ponds on the east tier below the dis
triDuting pool have become entirely
dry within a week. Their basins are
water plants. In still other pools
there is a profuse growth of weeds,
occasionally a puddle of water indi-
eating where the fish once swan
These ponds have been dry for several
weeks, it appears. and in two of them
hatchery attendants were moving the
weeds. These dry ponds total eight
At least one of the number, it is con-
tended, has never been in use and its
shortage of water at this time can