Kansas Transition from Ground Kansas Transition from Ground Water Development to Enhanced Water Development to Enhanced

Ground Water ManagementGround Water Management

Define the ResourceBeneficial Use

Protect and Control

Thomas L. Huntzinger, P.E.

Kansas Department of Agriculture

Division of Water Resources

Water AvailabilityWater AvailabilityPrimary Aquifers

Potential Natural Recharge for the Potential Natural Recharge for the High Plains Aquifer in KansasHigh Plains Aquifer in Kansas

Potential Natural Recharge for the Potential Natural Recharge for the High Plains Aquifer in KansasHigh Plains Aquifer in Kansas

“All water within the state of Kansas is hereby dedicated to the use of the people of the state,

subject to the control and regulation of the state in the manner herein prescribed.”

K.S.A. 82a-702.(History: L. 1945.)

Water – A Public ResourceWater – A Public Resource

Water ManagementWater Management

“No person shall have the power or authority to acquire an appropriation right to the use of water

for other than domestic use without first obtaining the approval of the chief engineer, …(History: L. 1945; amended 1957.)”

K.S.A.82a-705 Acquisition of appropriation right to use water

Water ManagementWater Management

Principles of Prior Appropriation

First in Time First in Right

1. Submit an application – obtain priority

2. Approval – is water available, without impairment

3. Proposed use is reasonable

4. Certification – put to beneficial use

Water ManagementWater ManagementPermits and Water Rights

1. Priority date

2. Maximum authorized quantity

3. Maximum rate of diversion

4. Place of use

5. Type of use

6. Location of point(s) of diversion

Water Right ChangesWater Right Changes

• Chief Engineer may Chief Engineer may approve a changeapprove a change

• Must not increase Must not increase maximum authorized maximum authorized quantityquantity

• Must not increase Must not increase consumptive useconsumptive use

• Must not impair other Must not impair other existing rightsexisting rights

Water ManagementWater ManagementGroundwater Management Districts•Proper management•Conservation•Prevent economic deterioration•Stabilize agriculture K.S.A. 82a-1020

Western Kansas GMD #1Southwest Kansas GMD #3Northwest Kansas GMD #4

Equus Beds GMD #2 Big Bend GMD #5

#4

#1

#3

#5 #2

Water ManagementWater Management

IGUCA•Unique management approach•Declining water levels•Withdrawal exceeds recharge•Preventable waste•Other requirements

Intensive Groundwater Use Control Areas

Water ManagementWater ManagementClosed and Restricted Areas

KANSAS WATER PLANNINGKANSAS WATER PLANNING

KANSAS WATER AUTHORITYKANSAS WATER AUTHORITY

• Chairman Appointed by GovernorChairman Appointed by Governor

• Voting MembersVoting Members– Water Interest GroupsWater Interest Groups

– Legislative AppointeesLegislative Appointees

• Ex-Officio – Non-Voting MembersEx-Officio – Non-Voting Members– State Water Agency HeadsState Water Agency Heads

KANSAS WATER PLANKANSAS WATER PLAN

• Kansas Water Office prepares plans in Kansas Water Office prepares plans in coordination with state water agencies.coordination with state water agencies.

• Plan Approved by the Water Authority.Plan Approved by the Water Authority.

• Plan recommends policies to Governor and Plan recommends policies to Governor and Legislature.Legislature.

HIGH PLAINS WATER HIGH PLAINS WATER MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

• Advisory Committee of Water UsersAdvisory Committee of Water Users

• Convened: Director of the Kansas Water OfficeConvened: Director of the Kansas Water Office

• Chairman: Irrigation FarmerChairman: Irrigation Farmer

• Charge: Recommend Strategy to Address Charge: Recommend Strategy to Address DepletionDepletion

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

Protocols –Protocols –

Groundwater Management Districts LeadGroundwater Management Districts Lead

Define Hydrologic SubunitsDefine Hydrologic Subunits

Approved by Division of Water ResourcesApproved by Division of Water Resources

Data at Square Mile ScaleData at Square Mile Scale

Priority Aquifer Subunits Defined by Projected Priority Aquifer Subunits Defined by Projected Useful Lifetime & Water Use Density within Useful Lifetime & Water Use Density within

Southwest Kansas Water Management District #3Southwest Kansas Water Management District #3

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

Concepts –Concepts –

Projected Useful LifeProjected Useful Life

Water Use DensityWater Use Density

Threshold Pumping RatesThreshold Pumping RatesIdentify Priority SubunitsIdentify Priority Subunits

Results at Township ScaleResults at Township Scale

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

ImplementationImplementation

Incentive-Based ProgramsIncentive-Based Programs

Buyout/Water Right RetirementBuyout/Water Right Retirement

Cost Share in Transition to DrylandCost Share in Transition to Dryland

Follow Kansas Water LawFollow Kansas Water Law

Regulatory OptionsRegulatory Options

Increased Compliance EnforcementIncreased Compliance Enforcement

Appropriation of WaterAppropriation of WaterK.S.A. 82a-711 and 711aK.S.A. 82a-711 and 711a

Neither impairs an existing rightNeither impairs an existing right

Unreasonable lowering of water tableUnreasonable lowering of water table

Beyond a reasonable economic limitBeyond a reasonable economic limit

Nor unreasonably affects the public interestNor unreasonably affects the public interest

Safe yieldSafe yield

PriorityPriority

Amount of each claim to use waterAmount of each claim to use water

Economics for existing water usersEconomics for existing water users

Existing rights can be satisfiedExisting rights can be satisfied

Walnut Creek IGUCAWalnut Creek IGUCA

Allocation Equal Safe YieldAllocation Equal Safe Yield

Allocated by Priority in % of AuthorizedAllocated by Priority in % of Authorized

Vested Rights – 100% Vested Rights – 100%

Appropriations prior to Safe Yield (1967) – 60%Appropriations prior to Safe Yield (1967) – 60%

Appropriations after 1967 – 40%Appropriations after 1967 – 40%

• Authorized Quantity in 2 Mile Circle:  8611 AFAuthorized Quantity in 2 Mile Circle:  8611 AF

• Authorized Quantity for File Number 10,497:  310 AFAuthorized Quantity for File Number 10,497:  310 AF

• Authorized Quantity for File Number 11,024:  200 AFAuthorized Quantity for File Number 11,024:  200 AF

• Estimated Potential Annual Recharge:  0.5 inchesEstimated Potential Annual Recharge:  0.5 inches

• Safe Yield Quantity for 2 Mile Circle:  251.33 AFSafe Yield Quantity for 2 Mile Circle:  251.33 AF

Two Mile Circle

Dryland SorghumDryland Sorghum

May-June-July Precipitation vs. Dryland Sorghum Yield, Sheridan County

020

4060

80100

120

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

May-June-July Precipitation (inches/year)

So

rgh

um

Yie

ld

(bu

shel

s/ac

re)

Series1

Selected Seasonal PrecipitationSelected Seasonal Precipitation

Decade Decade 8 inches8 inches 9 inches 10 inches9 inches 10 inches

1950 thru 591950 thru 59 3.523.52 6.556.55 10.5510.55

1960 thru 691960 thru 69 0.040.04 1.041.04 2.042.04

1970 thru 791970 thru 79 0.530.53 1.531.53 2.82.8

1980 thru 891980 thru 89 6.456.45 8.458.45 11.1111.11

1990 thru 991990 thru 99 0.510.51 1.511.51 2.512.51

Estimated recharge per decade is 5 to 10 inches.Estimated recharge per decade is 5 to 10 inches.

Total Decadal Precipitation Deficit from Selected Seasonal Precipitation

Useful Sources of InformationUseful Sources of Information

• Perspectives on Sustainable Development of Perspectives on Sustainable Development of Water Resources in Kansas, by Marios Water Resources in Kansas, by Marios Sophocleous, Ed., Kansas Geological Survey, Sophocleous, Ed., Kansas Geological Survey, 19981998

• Estimates of Freshwater Storage and Potential Estimates of Freshwater Storage and Potential Natural Recharge for Principal Aquifers in Natural Recharge for Principal Aquifers in Kansas, by Christi V. Hansen, U.S. Geological Kansas, by Christi V. Hansen, U.S. Geological Survey, 1991Survey, 1991

• Kansas Water Appropriation Act, Kansas Kansas Water Appropriation Act, Kansas Statutes 82a-701 thru 735Statutes 82a-701 thru 735

• http://www.kgs.ku.edu/HighPlainshttp://www.kgs.ku.edu/HighPlains