WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Two of Kansas’ premier wetlands are in danger of drying up, and wildlife officials say that could be devastating for waterfowl hunters and wildlife watchers down the road.
On the bright side, managers at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge say the parched conditions give them access to the areas they don’t usually have when water is plentiful.
The Wichita Eagle reports Cheyenne Bottoms near Great Bend and Quivira, near Stafford, are nearly dry because of the ongoing drought.
Officials say the conditions of central Kansas wetlands are probably the worst they’ve been in about 20 years.
Bird experts say it shouldn’t have much of an impact on migrating waterfowl that will simply keep flying until they find better conditions.