Earl Lewis, PE Kansas Economic Policy Conference October 24, 2003 Development to Management: The Changing Water Supply and Policy of Kansas Earl Lewis, PE Kansas Economic Policy Conference October 24, 2003
Development to Management: Overview Geographic Setting Water Appropriation Water Planning Groundwater Development Water Management Future Challenges & Outlook
Development to Management: Geographic Setting Precipitation Variation 16 – 42 inches/year Western Kansas Groundwater Irrigation and Stock Watering Eastern Kansas Surface Water / Reservoirs Municipal and Industrial
Development to Management: Geographic Setting
Development to Management: Appropriation Act 1945 Legislative Change Prior Appropriation System First in Time – First in Right Enabled Capital Investments in Water Development Administered by Kansas Board of Agriculture
Development to Management: State Water Planning Act Federal Watershed Program Soil Bank 1958 Federal Water Supply Act 1956 State Water Planning Act Plan for Development, Conservation and Management of Water Resources State Water Resources Board
Development to Management: Federal Reservoirs 1944 Pick Sloan Act Corps of Engineers / Bureau of Reclamation Lake Development 1974 Water Marketing Program State Raw Water Utility
Development to Management: Federal Reservoirs
Development to Management: Center Pivots Large Scale Development of Western Kansas Supported Expansion of Feedlot Industry Multi-Billion Dollar Economy
Development to Management: Water Right Development by Year
Development to Management: Ogallala Groundwater Decline 1989 - 1999
Development to Management: Groundwater Management Districts 1972 Groundwater Management District Act Allowed Local Input into Water Management Additional Authorities to Manage Water Rights
Development to Management: 1978 Changes 1978 Changes to Water Appropriation Act Permit Required for New Development Kansas Department of Health and Environment Clean Water Act Safe Drinking Water Act Governor’s Task Force Examine State Structure of Agencies
Development to Management: Water Management New State Water Planning Process Kansas Water Office Created Water Management Issues Addressed Minimum Desirable Streamflow Water Rights Purchase Program Water Assurance Districts
Development to Management: Areas Closed to New Appropriation
Development to Management: Minimum Desirable Streamflow
Development to Management: Water Assurance Districts
Development to Management: Ensuring Water for the Future Economy Protecting Capital Investments in Reservoirs Effective Distribution of Water Securing Water for Future in Western Kansas
Development to Management: Future Outlook Adequate Water Supply for Productive Economy and Environment
Thank You Earl Lewis