Kswater.org – a place to learn about Kansas water resources

Introduction

The purpose of this site is to inform citizens about Kansas water resources and its management. Water in Kansas is quite variable and there are diverse group of laws and agency that govern its use and management.

The site will be developed slowly over time; adding content area by area. See the blog section for progress on the web site. It the meantime, below is an overview of water resource agencies where you can obtain Kansas Water Resource information.

Kansas Water Agencies

There are a significant number of state, local, and federal agencies that have a role in managing Kansas water resources. This site will focus on our state agencies and esp. the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s (KDA), Division of Water Resources (DWR).

State agencies:

• Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), Division of Water Resources (DWR),– Principle duties:
  • Allocate and manage the state’s water resources via the Kansas water appropriation act
  • Kansas Interstate compacts (Republican River; KS-CO Arkansas River; KS-OK Arkansas River, Big Blue).
  • Laws related to stream and flood plain regulation
  • Others: GMD, Watershed District, more
• KDA, Division of Conservation (DOC) – principally a funding agency… Kansas water plan… for.
• Kansas Water Office (KWO)

Local agencies:

• Groundwater Management Districts – local units of government allowed to Kansas groundwater management district act. Kansas has 5 of them.

Federal:

 

Coming soon: Kansas water laws

• Kansas water appropriation act
  • Court decisions
  • Law articles
• Kansas Interstate compacts.
• Laws related to stream and flood plain regulation

Last updated 11/19/2016