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- Little Arkansas River above Alta Mills (MDS administration in effect)
- Republican River (MDS administration not in effect)
Minimum desirable streamflow requirements were made part of the Kansas Water Appropriation Act by the Kansas Legislature to ensure base flows in certain streams to protect existing water rights and to meet in-stream water uses related to water quality, fish and wildlife, and recreation.
The Division monitors 23 streams and rivers at 33 locations for minimum desirable streamflow. When flows drop below an established threshold, pumping restrictions are imposed on permits or water rights granted after the minimum desirable streamflow provision was made into law in 1984.
All applications to appropriate water for beneficial use filed on or after April 12, 1984, are subject to any minimum desirable streamflow requirements identified and established pursuant to the following statutes:
K.S.A. 82a-703a, b and c: Minimum Streamflows Established
Any person who makes unlawful diversions of water, while an MDS order is in effect, may be subject to criminal and/or civil enforcement under the Kansas Water Appropriation Act, which may include the assessment of civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day of violation and modification or suspension of approved permit(s) or water right(s).
Related Links
U.S. Drought Monitor for Kansas
Kansas Water Office Drought Report
MDS Administration in Effect for the Little Arkansas River above Alta Mills
As of May 9, 2011, the minimum desirable streamflow (MDS) established under the Kansas Water Appropriation Act for the Little Arkansas River at the gaging station at Alta Mills, Kansas, had not been met for seven consecutive days. Therefore, the Chief Engineer has issued an Order determining that administration of water rights and approvals of application for appropriation of water (MDS Administration) is required under K.A.R. 5-15-1 through 5-15-4. While the Order is in effect, no water may be diverted or pumped under surface water rights or approved permits with priority dates after April 12, 1984 as identified in the Order. In order to cease MDS administration, it will be necessary either for the flows to remain above MDS for 14 consecutive days, or for the flows to be high enough, before the 14 day criteria is met, that it appears they will remain above MDS for the foreseeable future.
Current USGS Gage Data for the Little Arkansas River at Alta Mills
Contact the Stafford Field Office for additional information about MDS on the Little Arkansas River.
Minimum Desirable Streamflow in the Lower Republican River Basin
Current Overview
Criteria for initiation of MDS administration are contained in K.A.R. 5-15-1(d). For the Republican River, criteria are: A) when flows drop below established MDS levels at certain gages for 7 consecutive days; and B) when the streamflow trigger value set in K.A.R. 5-15-4 is not met for the preceding 60-day period.
Provided flows remain above MDS and the 60-day streamflow trigger remains above the acceptable value, "junior" water right holders (those with water rights established after April 12, 1984) may continue to divert water. Several variable factors influence when water rights administration may be required to meet MDS values on the Republican River, including precipitation, reservoir releases and area water use.
Additional information will be posted on this page if MDS administration becomes likely.
Data
The following graphs for Concordia and Clay Center plot the actual daily average flow value divided by the MDS value (dashed purple line) and the 150 percent value (1.50 as a solid purple line), representing the triggers outlined by K.A.R. 5-15-1(a)(1) and K.A.R. 5-15-4.*
*Flow values during the winter months are based on USGS estimates due to gage icing during extreme cold.
The 60-day criteria is computed as follows:
1. Divide the mean daily flow for the day by the MDS value for the day.
2. Compute the average of the ratios computed in step 1 for the previous 60 days.
Example:
The ratios described in step 1 have been computed for June 1 through July 30 (60 individual ratios). On July 31, the average of those 60 ratios is computed by summing the ratios and dividing by 60. If that average ratio is less than 1.5, the 60-day criteria for initiation of MDS administration has been met.
Related Links
USGS Gage on the Republican River near Hardy, NebraskaUSGS Gage on the Republican River at Concordia, KansasUSGS Gage on the Republican River at Clay Center, Kansas US Army Corps of Engineers Milford Lake Daily Lake information Page
Contact
Katie Tietsort, Water Commissioner of the Topeka Field Office (785) 862-6300
Scott Ross, Water Commissioner of the Stockton Field Office (785) 425-6787
