Arkansas River Valley Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area

Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Gray and Ford Counties

Initiated: April 12, 1984, requested by GMD No. 3 and information in the office of the Chief Engineer

Reasons for request:

  • The Chief Engineer had requested a hydrologic study of the area, in order to resolve a long-standing moratorium on approval of new applications in the area, which had been in place since January 21, 1977
  • USGS notified the Chief Engineer of Completion of their study on October 3, 1983
  • Information in the office of the Chief Engineer indicated excessive declinines in groundwater levels, that the rate of withdrawal of groundwater equals or exceeds rate of recharge and that conditions existed that required regulation in the public interest
Public Hearing: November 6, 1985
Order issued: September 29, 1986 - Adobe PDF Available

Conclusions

  • Area above Bear Creek Fault zone is more complex system, therefore areas above and below require separate control provisions
  • Stateline flows had diminished
  • Groundwater levels were declining or had declined excessively
  • Rate of withdrawal equaled or exceeded the rate of recharge
  • Conditions existed which required regulation in the public interest
  • Groundwater levels in the lower reach have continually declined
  • Rate of withdrawal of water from the lower reach exceeded rate of recharge
  • Rate of withdrawal in upper reach exceeded rate of inflow and recharge resulting in declines in water levels in the alluvial aquifer and reduction of surface flow
Provisions
  • Closed the area to further appropriations
  • Prohibited approval of applications for change in point of diversion proposing to move wells closer to the river. 
  • Set strict construction requirements on new or replacement wells in order to minimize leakage from the alluvium to Ogallala aquifer
  • Required test logs for for all applications to change the point of diversion
  • Task Force was appointed to provide advice and recommendations to the chief engineer (one representative from each entity)
    • Associated Ditch System
    • GMD No. 3
    • Lower reach surface water user of the Arkansas River
    • Upper reach surface water user of the Arkansas River
    • Lower reach groundwater user of the Arkansas River
    • Upper reach groundwater user of the Arkansas River
    • Upper Arkansas river Basin Advisory Committee
    • Groundwater user for municipal or industrial
    • SW KS Irrigation Association
    • Two representatives at large
  • GMD No. 3 can request a hearing to amend and make recommendations separate from the task force
  • Chief engineer can amend the IGUCA if deemed in the public interest
Task Force report made the following recommendations in June, 1989
  • Owners of all non-domestic wells should be required to install water flowmeters
  • Maximum authorized quantities should be more closely monitored and enforced
  • Additional regulations should be proposed to control over-pumping
Order Amended March 6, 1987 - Adobe PDF Available