Watershed Districts
Overview
Recognizing that serious problems of water management resulting from erosion, floodwater or sediment damages or instability of natural water supplies were arising in the watersheds of the rivers and streams of the state of Kansas, the Kansas legislature established the Watershed District Act in 1953. The purpose of the watershed district is to construct, operate and maintain works of improvement needed to provide for water management within designated boundaries.
A watershed is all the land that drains to a particular water resource point, such as a lake or stream. Watershed district boundaries generally follow a natural watershed basin. There are 88 organized watershed districts in Kansas encompassing approximately 22 percent of the total land mass in the state. Organized watershed districts have taxing authority (within limitations) and the power of eminent domain, in addition to other powers granted by K.S.A. 24-1209. Each watershed district incorporated under the provisions of this act is a political subdivision of state government.
Since 1977, the Kansas Legislature has appropriated funds for assistance in the construction of flood detention and grade stabilization dams. These funds are appropriated to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Conservation (DOC) and allocated to watershed districts for flood control projects. The DOC has developed administrative regulations for the implementation of the state assistance in watershed dam construction, rehabilitation and inundation mapping.
The Watershed District Act, K.S.A. 24-1201 et seq. and the Watershed Dam Construction Program rules and regulations K.A.R. 11-3-1 to 11-3-12 provide guidance for the administration of the state cost-share funding. More information on state cost-share may be found on this website by selecting Flood Control/Lakes from the Main Menu.
Click here for the Kansas Watershed Districts Map
Click here for the Kansas Watershed Districts Directory 2012
Click here for Forms and Applications
