In 1978, the Kansas Legislature enacted the Kansas Groundwater Management District Act, which also contained specific provisions (K.S.A. 82a-1036, K.S.A. 82a-1037 and K.S.A. 82a-1038) for initiation of proceedings for and designation of Intensive Groundwater Use Control Areas (IGUCA). These statutes allow the Chief Engineer to implement additional corrective control provisions in areas where it is determined, through a public hearing process, that groundwater levels are declining excessively, the rate of groundwater withdrawal exceeds the rate of groundwater recharge, unreasonable deterioration of groundwater quality has occurred or may occur, or other conditions exist warranting additional regulation to protect public interest.
Eight such areas have been designated:
- McPherson IGUCA
- Pawnee Valley IGUCA
- Burrton IGUCA
- Lower Smoky Hill River IGUCA
- Upper Smoky Hill River IGUCA
- Arkansas River Valley IGUCA
- Hays IGUCA
- Walnut Creek IGUCA
While a brief summary of each IGUCA has been provided, the actual IGUCA orders are also available on this web site and should be referred to for actual detailed conclusions and provisions.