WSP10064

• File Number: 8112.600
• Description: Arkansas White Red Basins Interagency Committee - AWRBIAC -- Reports
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 4/1/1977
• Title: Technical Memorandum -- Activity 3 Phase II -- Specific Problem Analysis - 1975 National Assessment -- Arkansas-White-Red Region Part 1 of 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

C)
CJ
~
~
~
~

I

I

withdrawal will cause the groundwater table to decline at increas-
ingly greater rates. Groundwater declines are already serious in
certain areas, especially in Scott, Wichita, and Gr~nt counties.

I

Laws, Policies, and Administration:

I

Both surface and ground waters in Kansas are regulated under
the appropriation doctrine, by which these waters are regarded as
the property of the state. This doctrine was established by the
Kansas legislature in 1945. Under the Kansas water law, surface
and ground water users alike must file an appropriation request
with the chief engineer, Kansas Division of Water Resources, in
order to secure a permit to use water. Under most conditions the
chief engineer must grant a water use permit if the proposed water
use both is beneficial and does not interfere with an existing
water right.

I

I

I

By the mid 1960's conCern for the declining groundwater levels
in Kansas began to grow, leading to the' passage in 1968 of a law
authorizing the formation of groundwater management districts. For-
mation of districts under this law was a difficult procedure, so
none were formed. Therefore, in 1972 the legislature enacted leg-
islation which expedited the process. Since then five districts
have been formed. Two of these, the Western Kansas Groundwater
Management District #1 and the Southwest Kansas Groundwater Man-
agement District. #3, operate in all or parts of each of the fif-
teen counties in the area.

I

I

I

The 1972 Groundwater Management District Act is directed toward
enabling areas with groundwater depletion problems to develop programs
to conserve groundwater. The Act lays out the procedure for forming
a district, and requires each district established to formulate a
management program. The program may vary from well spacing rules
to pump age limitations. Thus, each management district, while op-
erating under a single set of rules for formation and administrative
purposes, is given wide latitude in its approach to managing its
groundwater resources.

I

I

I

Problem Interrelationships:

I

An industry of great importance to the area is petroleum and
natural gas production. This industry has a close relationship to
the area's irrigated agriculture because of three factors. First,
the production of petroleum and natural gas provides, through
royalties and processing facilities, a considerable benefit to
the regional economy. Second, in several parts of the area natural
gas is used directly to fuel irrigation pumps. And finally, the
production of petroleum and natural gas is expected to decline con-
siderably during the next few years. Combining with these factors
the eventual loss of irrigated acreages in the area could cause
even greater economic problems, or to some extent accelerate

I
I

I

I
I

32