Gov. Brownback completes agenda to conserve water supply

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback completed the 2012 water package last week by signing the final bill in a series of legislation designed to conserve the state’s water supply and extend the life of the Ogallala Aquifer. The water legislation package consists of six bills.

HB 2451 eliminates the state’s “use-it-or-lose-it” law for groundwater rights in areas of Kansas determined to be over-appropriated. SB 272 amends the water appropriation law and increases the amount of groundwater that may be pumped with a multi-year flex account. The signing of HB 2516 will extend the law allowing the creation of water banks. A state-approved water bank facilitates the short-term lease, up to 10 years, of water rights at a price set by the seller and agreed to by the buyer. HB 2517 extends water law authorizing the state to purchase and retire water rights, subject to the availability of state funding. SB 310 allows local enhanced management areas to be established within a groundwater management district. SB 148 makes clear the authority of a water right owner to divide the right into two or more distinct water rights without losing priority.

Work on reforming the state’s water laws started a year ago when the Brownback administration began planning the Ogallala Aquifer Water Summit. Hundreds of Kansans attended the summit in Colby, which provided a forum for stakeholders to discuss their concerns, ideas and visions for the future.

For more information visit www.kla.org.

1. Workshop to discuss nutrient application, management, stewardship
2. Help for flood affected farmers
3. Representative Lucas discusses new Farm Bill
4. U.S. May consumer sentiment highest in nearly 6 years
5. Cattle producers turn to MSU for reproduction class
6. NCBA Op-Ed: EPA’s data sharing incident a debacle

1. New school lunch beef recipes win approval from kids, foodservice
2. Prices for corn and soybeans, five years from now
3. Drier weather to give big boost to U.S. corn plantings
4. Agriculture is expected to remain strong in the coming decade
5. What sick day? Farmers take just three a year
6. Insects. They’re what’s for dinner!

1. Insects. They’re what’s for dinner!
2. Tyson selects panel to monitor animal welfare program
3. World food supply depends on character, virtuous leadership
4. Commentary: Slanting the statistics
5. Buffet concerned about soil and starvation
6. Cold spring stunts upper Midwest hay crop