balancing the books: kansas’ water past,,, present, and … the high plains aquifer in kansas...
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Balancing the Books:Kansas’ Water Past, Present, and Future, ,
Image courtesy of USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science website, 2007
David Barfield, Chief Engineer
Division of Water Resources
, g2009 GWPC Water/Energy Sustainability Symposium
September 15, 2009
OutlineOutline• Kansas water resources and itsKansas water resources and its
development• Current and future water resourceCurrent and future water resource
challenges including water for energygy
• What are we doing/other potential approaches pp
• Closing thoughts
Normal annual precipitation (1961-1990) in Kansas.The area west of the dashed line shows the extentThe area west of the dashed line shows the extent
of the High Plains aquifer in Kansas (from Goodin et al., 1995).
15 20 40 4535 4030 3525 3020 2515-20 40-4535-4030-3525-3020-25
The mean annual runoff (in inches) in Kansas.
The areas west of the dashed line shows the extentof the High Plains aquifer in Kansas (adapted from Wetter, 1987).
Water development i tit ti l t tinstitutional structure
• Early development under commonEarly development under common (riparian) law
• Kansas Water Appropriation Act (KWAA), 1945 both groundwater and surface water1945, both groundwater and surface water in a single system
• Groundwater Management District Act, g1972. Motivated by declines in Western KS and desire for local input
• KWAA regulatory teeth 1978KWAA regulatory teeth, 1978• On-going water planning process leading to
refinements to water laws (e.g. purpose of f d l i t i t fl )federal reservoir storage, in-stream flows)
Planning and managementg g
• Water resources development largely p g yunrestricted before the late 1970’s
• Since then, increased management bySince then, increased management by DWR and GMD’s– Most new development highly restricted by p g y y
1980’s– Currently most of KS is closed to new water
rights or managed by “safe yield”– Yet little done to address over-development
howeverhowever.
NUMBER AND NET AUTHORIZED QUANTITY OF WATER RIGHTS
30,000
35,000
12,000,000
14,000,000
25,000
ES IN
YEA
R
10,000,000
15 000
20,000
PR
IOR
ITY
DA
TE
6 000 000
8,000,000
QU
AN
TITY
(AF)
10,000
15,000
NU
MB
ER
WIT
H
4,000,000
6,000,000 Q
5,000 2,000,000
01945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
YEAR
0
ACCUMULATED NUMBER APPROVED ACCUMULATED NET AF AUTHORIZED
Kansas water resources challenges
• Water for growth in cities and energy needs, esp. in KC metro and gy , pWichita metro– declining dependable supplies,declining dependable supplies,
reservoir sedimentation• Dealing with non-sustainable usesDealing with non sustainable uses
in west
Some power plants do not have a water right, and instead are served by municipal water systems. In addition, some power plants are served through water marketing contracts (reservoir releases) that are not part of the water rights held by the power plants.
Water for new uses (including energy)
I t l d t K• In central and eastern Kansas– New appropriations from surface water
d d ti KS d MO Riand productive KS and MO River alluviumsNew reservoirs– New reservoirs
• In western Kansas– Purchase and conversion of existing
water rights (typically irrigation)
Kansas ethanol grainsg
• Kansas has a total corn and sorghumKansas has a total corn and sorghum production of 700 million bushels in 20082008– Corn and sorghum are used interchangeably in
Kansas ethanol plants
• Approximately 180 million bushels of corn and sorghum are used for ethanol production
19
SustainabilitySustainability“[Meeting] the needs of the present without[Meeting] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”(Our Common Future, United Nations/Brundtland Commission, 1987)
Question: So where are we in relation to sustainability of our waterto sustainability of our water resources?
A All thAnswer: All over the map
Total Statewide Water Use, 1981-2005
6,000,000
7,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
feet
/yea
r
2,000,000
3,000,000
Acre
-f
1,000,000
, ,
0
Studies and modelingStudies and modeling
Working to nderstanding the ProblemWorking to understanding the Problem • Data collection
A l i / d li• Analysis / modeling• Stakeholder input• Management options• Integrated solutions
No “one size fits all” approach
Groundwater modeling lessonsGroundwater modeling lessons
• Models for water resource managementModels for water resource management require additional attention to detail – Clearly define model purposes – Diverse, engaged team with multiple
modelers and data experts J i t t ti f lt t d l– Joint testing of alternate model processes
– Robust data development and review • This process enhances model• This process enhances model
performance and acceptance by the regulated communityregulated community
Water Level ChangesFuture water level rises with no pumping in target areas
Future water level risesFuture water level rises with 30% reduction in target areas
Sustainability of reservoir yields i t d b t l t t di t tiimpacted by storage lost to sedimentation
45
30
35
40
s
20
25
30
Per
cent
Los
s
5
10
15P
0
Big
Hill
Web
ster
Kirw
in
l Dor
ado
Mel
vern
Che
ney
Seb
eliu
s
Hill
sdal
e
Clin
ton
dar B
luff
Wils
on
Wac
onda
Mar
ion
Milf
ord
Pom
ona
cil G
rove
Per
ry
Love
wel
l
Elk
City
Fall
Riv
er
Red
mon
d
le C
reek
anop
olis
Toro
nto
W El
Kei
th S H
Ced W P
Cou
nc
L F
John
R
Tuttl K
a
Market-driven solutionsMarket driven solutions
• Private entities cities andPrivate entities, cities and corporations dealing with it – finding new suppliesnew supplies
• Groundwater mining concluding with sustainability for numerous smallsustainability for numerous small uses (GMD 1 scenario)
Explore and develop innovation solutions
• Aquifer storage and recoveryAquifer storage and recovery (Wichita) - Are there other locations where this could work?where this could work?
• City of Hutchinson – cleanup of contaminated water for municipalcontaminated water for municipal use. K A Di t i t• Kansas Assurance Districts
• Explore opportunities for enhanced recharge and expanded reuse
Targeted water use retirement programsretirement programs
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
• Water Transition Assistance Program (WTAP)
Regulatory approachesRegulatory approaches
• Increased compliance andIncreased compliance and enforcement of water rights
• Explore full range of potential GMD• Explore full range of potential GMD and/or State actions to reduce allocations/use while maintainingallocations/use while maintaining maximum economic useE l i di i ti i• Exploring disincentives in agriculture to reduced water use ( i )(e.g. crop insurance)
All of the above and moreAll of the above and more
• Many solutions will combine localMany solutions will combine local and regional action
• What works in one area may not in• What works in one area may not in anotherLik d li ith b d t t f• Like dealing with a budget out of balance
• No silver bullets; just a lot of hard work
Parting ThoughtsParting Thoughts• Are sustainable water resources possible p
in Kansas?– Yes, but expensive and not easy– Solid framework in our laws water planningSolid framework in our laws, water planning
processes, significant coordination • When should we start?
It ill onl become more costl and diffic lt– It will only become more costly and difficult the longer we wait
• “Water resources professional job it t” ith “fi d” dsecurity act” – with “fixed” resource and
increasing demand, there will always be work to do
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