Water Transition Assistance Program (WTAP)
Water Transition Assistance Program Benefits Landowners and Water Resources
The Kansas Department of Agriculture will accept applications under the Water Right Transition Assistance Program (WTAP) during the fall 2012 enrollment period. The fall enrollment period begins October 1, 2012 and ends November 15, 2012.
WTAP is a voluntary, incentive-based program that permanently retires privately held irrigation water rights in exchange for payment by the State of Kansas. It is intended to help restore aquifers and recover stream flows in critically depleted target areas. The 2012 Kansas Legislature extended WTAP until June 30, 2022 based on past results of the recent pilot project.
The target areas currently designated include Rattlesnake Creek Sub-basin, Prairie Dog Creek Basin, and six “High Priority Areas” of Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 4. The WTAP rules and regulations, target area maps, application forms and other details are posted on the Division of Conservation web site at http://www.ksda.gov/doc/ .
WTAP bids cannot exceed $2,000 per acre-foot of the Historic Consumptive Water Use as calculated over the last ten years of actual annual water use of the water right(s) proposed for acceptance. Applications to accept partial water rights can also be considered. The award of WTAP grants for water right retirements is based on a competitive bidding process.
Applications which propose a financial contribution from a local entity may increase the priority of an application.
Anyone who would like more information about WTAP may contact the program administrator by phone at (785) 296-8964 or electronically at steve.frost@kda.ks.gov .
Water Transition Assistance Pilot Project Program Documents
Kansas Water Office Hydrogram (December 2008)
Water Transition Assistance Pilot Project Program Enrollment
The fall application period runs October 1 - November 15 annually. If funds are available after the fall enrollment, there will be a spring application period, February 15 - March 31. Below are the Water Transition Assistance Pilot Project Program Applications and Water Right Forms.
WTAP_V_Application WR Reduction
Mail completed applications and related forms to the Division of Conservation, Kansas Department of Agriculture.
If you would like more information on this program please contact Steve Frost, Water Conservation Program Manager, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Conservation.
