Division of Water Resources

Photograph of David Barfield Chief Engineer

 David W. Barfield, P.E. - Chief Engineer (Biography)

The Division of Water Resources administers 31 laws and responsibilities including the Kansas Water Appropriation Act which governs how water is allocated and used; statutes regulating the construction of dams, levees and other changes to streams; the state's four interstate river compacts; as well as coordinating the national flood insurance program in Kansas.


[Water Appropriation] [Water Structures] [Water Management Services]

[Interstate Water Issues] [Basin Management Team]

News:

Stockton Field Office Meter Order issued October 14, 2009

Proposed regulatory amendments to discontinue the Water Rights Conservation Program (WRCP), Public Hearing Notice and Online Comment Submission

Fact Sheet:  Phasing Out the Water Rights Conservation Program PDF

New Regulations pertaining to Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area (IGUCA) hearings and formal review, effective September 18, 2009

New Fact Sheets regarding IGUCA, Arkansas River Compact, and Impairment Investigations have been uploaded to the Publications Page

Arbitrator issues his final decision on Nebraska’s 2005-2006 violations of the Republican River Compact, June 30, 2009

DWR Currents for October 2009

Kansas Water Resources PublicationPDF(7MB)


 

DWR is organized as follows:

  • Water Appropriation - Manages the state's water supply through a system of permits, reviews and inspections.

  • Water Structures - Regulates activities affecting streams by ensuring that they are properly planned, constructed, operated and maintained for their authorized purposes without adversely affecting the environment, public health and welfare, and public and private property.

  • Water Management Services - Provides technical and data support to all agency water programs and includes the following sub-programs:

    • Interstate Water Issues - Kansas is party to compacts that allocate water from the Arkansas, Big Blue, Missouri and Republican rivers.

    • Basin Management Team - Works to develop water management strategies to address water resource issues identified in the Kansas State Water Plan.

Links to Key DWR Web Pages

DWR Statutes and Regulations

DWR Forms

DWR Currents Newsletter

Your comments and suggestions are encouraged!  Here is how to contact us.