Water District Newsletter Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District Volume 3 Issue 12

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SOUTHWEST KANSAS GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT NO. 3 409 Campus Drive, Suite 106, Garden City KS 67846 RETURN SERVICE UESTED Cl F. � l t 2003 Ct:ioradt)Watti Ctmefvauon _ F. L. Sparks CO Wtr Conservation Bd 1313 Sherman Street Denver, CO 80203 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID GARDEN CITY, KS PERMIT NO. 56 INTERSTATE WATER ISSUES Also during the Nov. 19th Water Summit, the GMD3 Board of Directors questioned the Chief Engineer, David Pope, regarding what measures have been taken to assure other states overlying the High Plains Aquifer comply with similar standards being adopted in SW Kansas. Mr. Pope said that other states likely have little physical Influence on the supply of water found in Kansas because he believes the groundwater generally moves too slowly throughout the aquifer system. He also stated that a general consensus exists among the states having the same concerns and objectives, but that some states may be slow to comply because their water management infrastructure isn't as sophisticated as ours. RIVER FLOW EAST OF DODGE CITY During the Fall Water Summit the Chief Engineer also expressed concerns about groundwater diversions located East of Dodge City potentially contributing to the current low flows in the Arkansas River located near the city of Kinsley, Kansas. Kinsley is located in Edwards County and is roughly about 40 miles downstream of Dodge City. Only about 25 miles of the Arkansas River reside in the District downstream of Dodge City. District records indicate that approximately 200 non - domestic wells are located within the Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area (IGUCA) from Dodge City to the eastern Ford County line. The IGUCA is an area located approximately 1 to 3 miles each side of the Arkansas River that was established by special order of the Chief Engineer in 1986. According to the Task Force Report of the Arkansas River IGUCA, dated June of 1989, the Chief Engineer listed the following reasons for establishing this IGUCA that extends from the Colorado state line to the eastern Ford County line. 1) Groundwater levels in the area in question were declining, or had declined excessively. 2) The rate of withdrawal of groundwater within the area in question equaled or exceeded the rate of recharge in the area. 3) Conditions existed within the area in question which required regulation in the public interest. The IGUCA order restricted not only existing water rights along the Arkansas River corridor from Colorado to the east Ford County line, but it also eliminated the opportunity to develop additional water rights in the area since becoming effective on September 29, 1986. Applications requesting 25 acre -feet or less per year were exempt until the District restricted that quantity to 5 acre - feet in 1989. On September 22, 2000 the rules were changed again to increase the exemption up to 15 acre -feet per year in order to match the statewide standard exemption for new appropriations. 2005 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT The Finance Committee of the GMD3 Board of Directors will meet with the District's Executive Director, Hank Hansen, and the Assistant Manager, Janet King, to develop a preliminary draft of the District's 2005 Financial Budget. The anticipated carry-over for 2005 isn't expected to be as high as the previous 2 years. In lieu of that, it doesn't appear at this preliminary stage of the planning process that tax assessments will need to be increased in order to meet the operating needs for the 2005 calendar year. Expenses were minimized during 2003 which should allow for adequate carry-over funds to begin the 2004 calendar year, which may also have a positive residual effect on the 2005 budget year.