Kansas Water Policy Changes Move Forward

Legislators continue to move forward on changes to Kansas water policy aimed at improving conservation efforts and prolonging the life of water supplies.

On Monday, the House approved a bill that would allow water-rights holders to form a reservoir improvement district on reservoirs. The bill, which now goes to the Senate, establishes a governing body that has the authority to develop plans to extend the life of reservoirs through management or improvement projects.

Several of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s pieces of water policy changes are close to arriving at his desk. One would remove the 1945 policy requiring water-rights holders to use the allotment each year or lose the right to the water. Another change would grant additional flexibility for use of water in dry years.