Kansas Biological Survey researchers are mapping sediment levels in Winfield Lake (above) and Kanopolis Lake (above inset).

Communities across Kansas face a quiet crisis: sediment buildup that threatens public reservoirs.

To address the problem, the Kansas Biological Survey at KU does mapping surveys of reservoirs such as Kanopolis Lake and Winfield Lake.

Algae outbreaks there, brought on by sediment, have caused taste and odor problems in the drinking water of more than 18,000 area residents.

Such surveys, funded by the Kansas Water Office, give lake managers around the state highly accurate data about the safety of water supplies.

Related info: www.kbs.ku.edu

STUDENT PROFILES

Julio Mata Jr., a Kansas City, Kan., freshman in pre-business, won first place in the fall 2007 Bizfest competition in Puerto Rico, sponsored by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. He entered a business plan for a bilingual tanning salon.