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Ag News -
Ag Briefs
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Monday, 23 April 2012 11:46 |
Division of Water Resources
Surrounded
by Colby Community College students, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback held
a ceremonial signing of a bill on Apr. 17, designed to conserve the
state's water supply and extend the life of the Ogallala Aquifer.
Senate Bill 310
establishes a process through groundwater management districts (GMDs)
that allows local communities of producers to collectively decide their
future by initiating the implementation of conservation plans that meet
their local goals.
Governor Brownback encouraged GMDs to begin
identifying places where “local enhanced management areas” (LEMAs) may
be a good fit.
"We must conserve our water so we can extend the
useful life of the Ogallala Aquifer," Brownback said. "This tool allows
Kansans to join together and offer up ideas that work on the local
level. It allows them to work together on behalf of their children and
grandchildren to provide solutions that will save water for the next
generation.”
Kansas Water Office Director Tracy Streeter,
Groundwater Management District Four Manager Wayne Bossert, Kansas
Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources Chief Engineer
Dave Barfield as well as legislators and stakeholder groups joined the
Governor for the bill signing.
 “The
Local Enhanced Management Areas is an option that Kansans asked for and
we already have a Groundwater Management District moving forward with a
LEMA proposal,” Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water
Resources Chief Engineer David Barfield said.
Work on reforming
the state's water laws began a year ago when the Brownback
administration started planning the Ogallala Aquifer Water Summit.
Hundreds of Kansans concerned about the future of the state's water
supply and the future of their children and grandchildren attended that
summit in Colby. From there, the Ogallala Aquifer Advisory Committee
reviewed short and long term water goals. Then the Kansas Water
Authority developed the water reform legislative agenda presented to the
Kansas Legislature for its consideration.
"Agriculture is key to
the economic vitality of Kansas, and water is essential to agriculture
production," Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Rodman said. "The
Governor’s 2011 water legislation package was an important step towards
creating water policy that benefits agriculture today and sustains the
valuable water resources for future generations.”
KWO Director Streeter said this law is a true example of how when Kansans work together, they can find solutions.
"This
legislation proves the stakeholder input process really does work,"
Director Streeter said. "The Kansas Water Office will continue to work
with the Kansas Water Authority and the Ogallala Aquifer Advisory
Committee to identify and evaluate further policy considerations." |
