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Upper Arkansas River
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
A $70 million
water conservation program in 10 counties along the upper Arkansas
River known as CREP was approved by the 2007 Kansas Legislature. The
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) will give irrigators
a chance to permanently retire their water right in the target area
in exchange for 15 years of rental payments, a state sign-up bonus,
and state, federal and private cost-share dollars. Details of
enrollment criteria are being developed and the sign-up is
anticipated to begin by Nov. 1. Please refer to the Kansas Water
Office “HydroGram” article titled
"Kansas
Legislature Approves $70 Million Water Conservation Program".
Water Conservation Project Fund - UARK Basin
The Water Conservation Project Fund received
$9,684,425 of the $34,615,146 State of Colorado payment to Kansas, as a
result of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Kansas v. Colorado lawsuit
regarding violations of the Arkansas River Compact. K.S.A. 82a-1803
instructs the Director of the Kansas Water Office to administer these funds in
the affected area with priority to projects that achieve the greatest water
conservation efficiency for the general good and those that have been required
by the Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources.
The Kansas Water Office is accepting
applications for projects under the Water Conservation Project Fund in
the area impacted by reduced Arkansas River flows entering Kansas from
Colorado. Projects must meet eligibility requirements and goals in
K.S.A. 82a-1803. Feasibility studies on two potential projects
have been completed.
Feasibility Study 1:
South Side Alternative Delivery System and Ditch Lining
Feasibility Study 2: Lake McKinney
Capacity and Bypass
Additional information can be found in
these documents:
Upper Arkansas River
Conservation Project Reconnaissance Study
Section 1 -
Overview and
Summary
Section 2 - Individual Summaries of
Projects for Consideration
Pages 1 - 37
Pages 38 - 39
Pages 40 - 78
Appendix A
Appendix B
The Kansas Water Appropriation Act:
http://www.ksda.gov/includes/statute_regulations/appropriation/KWAA_Rules_Regs_2006_FullVersion.pdf
Compact law:
http://www.ksda.gov/includes/statute_regulations/interstate_water_issues/Arkansas_River_Compact_1949.pdf
Kansas Geological
Survey report on the Arkansas River water salinity -
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Hydro/UARC/index.html
Water Conservation Project Fund Application -
Word Format -
PDF Format
AFFECTED AREA MAP
Watershed Unit
Projects
The Kansas Water
Office is involved in several projects related to the protection and
restoration of federal water supply reservoirs in Kansas. Reservoirs
experience a life cycle in which nutrient levels and sediment deposition
increase over time. Sediment accumulation reduces the water supply
storage capacity of the reservoir and also acts as a sink for attached
nutrients to be retained and periodically recycled within the
reservoir. Nutrient enrichment can lead to more frequent algae blooms
resulting in taste and odor problems in drinking water obtained from the
reservoir.
Water Planning
The
Kansas Water Office Planning Program, in cooperation with other state
and federal agencies, prepare the state comprehensive plan for the
management, conservation and development of Kansas' water resources.
The Kansas Water Plan is updated regularly and provides the
framework for addressing the state's water problems, issues and
concerns.
Dispute
Resolution
Services
The Kansas Water Office provides
facilitation services for people and organizations involved in water or
natural resource related issues, whether they are between two parties or
involve multiple parties. Participation in facilitated sessions is
voluntary. These services are sponsored by the Governor’s Sub-Cabinet
on Natural Resources.
Fact Sheet
- Brochure
Water Conservation
The
Kansas Water Office has the statutory responsibility to develop and
maintain guidelines for water conservation plans and practices, and to
provide, or arrange to provide, technical assistance for water uses
required to adopt and implement conservation plans and practices. The
Water Conservation Program has developed guidelines for municipal,
industrial and irrigation water use.
Drought Monitoring
The
Kansas Water Office has the statutory responsibility to advise the
Governor on drought conditions and coordinates the Governor's drought
response team. The Drought Monitoring Program collects climate data
from a variety of sources, monitors drought activities and publishes a
Drought Report during periods of drought.
Water Assurance
The
Water Assurance Program was enacted in statute in 1986. The purpose of
the Program is to allow for coordinated operation of state-owned or
controlled water storage space in federal reservoirs in a designated
basin to satisfy downstream municipal and industrial water rights during
drought conditions. Water right holders are therefore assured to
receive enhanced flow during times of drought by state operation of
reservoirs in a basin as a system for increased efficiency in water
delivery.
Water Marketing
The
1974 Legislature enacted the State Water Plan Storage Act, which
authorizes the KWO to contract with water purchasers for sale of water
from state owned storage in federal reservoirs. Water sold from these
reservoirs must be used for municipal or industrial purposes. The
purpose of the Program is to develop adequate water supply storage to
meet present and anticipate municipal and industrial water needs, in the
best interests of the state.
Weather Modification
The KWO
administrates the provisions of the Kansas Weather Modification Act
which authorizes it to license operators and issue permits related to
the weather modification programs in Kansas. The purpose of this
program is to insure that operations are safe to operators and the
public and that the operations are beneficial to the state.
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