(KNZA)--The Doniphan County Commission has adopted a resolution supporting a 50-year vision for water in Kansas, but opposing construction of an aqueduct that would divert water from the Missouri River to support agriculture in western Kansas.

At the urging of several county residents, the Commission adopted the resolution this week presented by County Attorney Charles Baskins.

Key to the opposition, as cited in the resolution, is the loss of 19,000 acres of county agricultural land if the aqueduct were to be constructed.

The resolution states that would mean the loss of tax revenue while negatively affecting landowners and farmers, as well as damage to the overall economic development of Doniphan County, due to the loss of land used for commercial transportation.

A study is currently underway to update one completed in 1982 that proposed building a 360-mile aqueduct from near White Cloud in Doniphan County to a location near Utica in western Kansas. The cost at that time was pegged at $3.6 billion to build the system, which would include pumping stations and collection reservoirs.

The project would divert 4 million acre feet of water for western Kansas.

Farmers in western Kansas currently relay on the Ogallala Aquifer, but officials say use of the Aquifer for agriculture is unsustainable to maintain existing farming.

The final draft of the 50-year Vision for Kansas Water is to be ready by November. The state Water Office has been holding meetings throughout the state to gather input on the plan, including those in the local area.