Current and future drought and water issues will be the main topic of discussion at the April 12, meeting of “It Blew So Hard: The Dust Bowl and Great Depression in Western Kansas” The meeting will be held at the Kinsley Library from 2-5 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
“Our best bulwark against another ecological crisis on the Plains remains our collective knowledge” highlighted the exhibit, “Dust Drought, and Dreams Gone Dry” recently displayed at the library.  
“It is very appropriate that this historical series on the Dust Bowl era end with an examination of how we face a future of decreasing water resources,” said Joan Weaver, Kinsley Library Director. “We invite everyone to attend this informative discussion even if they have not been a participant of our winter series.”
A panel of four speakers will give insight on how Kansans will face current and future droughts, limited supplies of ground water, and the depletion of the aquifer. The panel will be moderated by the series discussion leader, Dr. Leo E. Oliva.
Among the presenters will be Richard Basore who will talk on “Drought Effects on Surface Water”. Basore is the Watershed Field Coordinator for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment with offices in Wichita.   
John Holman, Cropping Systems Agronomist of the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Garden City will speak on rainfall records in western Kansas.
Richard Wenstrom will provide a brief history of irrigation development. He is a licensed engineer, Edwards County irrigation farmer, and board presidents of the Water Protection Association of Central Kansas,
Jeff Lanterman, Water Commissioner, Division of Water Resources, in the Stafford Field Office completes the panel and will address water rights and some of the issues that occur regarding rights.
For more information about the program contact the Kinsley Library, 620-659-3341, or email director@kinsleylibrary.info.   
The discussion series is being partially funded by the Kansas Humanities Council, a nonprofit organization that supports community-based cultural programs, serves as a financial resource through an active grant-making program, and encourages Kansans to engage in the civic and cultural life of their communities. For more information, visit www.kansashumanities.org.