Brownback Touts New Water Conservation Law

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is touting a new water conservation law aimed at extending the life of the Ogallala Aquifer.

Brownback traveled to the northwestern town of Colby on Tuesday to re-enact his signing of a bill that lets groundwater management districts create conservation areas within their borders.

Management districts can impose special controls on water use in those areas. The policy is designed to encourage local communities to pursue their own conservation efforts.

Brownback originally signed the bill March 30, and the new law took effect last week.

It was part of a package of water conservation proposals pushed this year by the governor. Another new law, taking effect in July, ends the state’s "use it or lose it" policy on water rights.