Division of Water Resources
David W. Barfield, P.E. - Chief Engineer
The Division of Water Resources administers 30 laws and responsibilities including the Kansas Water Appropriation Act which governs how water is allocated and used; statutes regulating the construction of dams, levees and other changes to streams; the state's four interstate river compacts; as well as coordinating the national flood insurance program in Kansas. (David's Biography and 
Twitter account)
[Water Appropriation] [Water Structures] [Water Management Services]
[Interstate Water Issues] [Basin Management Team] [Comments and Suggestions]
DWR is also on Facebook and Twitter: 
News:
The February 2, 2012 DWR Currents, our weekly newsletter with information about Senate passage of the MYFA bil (SB 272), Meet the Staff: Cameron Conant, and a water related exhibit at the Salina Art Center. [Subscribe by E-mail]
2012 Legislative Session: DWR's Water Resources Bill Summary (Updated January 11, 2012)
2011 Drought Options: Two options were made available for water users needing additional pumping authorization during 2011 to prevent crop failure, while insuring additional pumping will not worsen aquifer declines. The Drought Emergency Term Permit filing deadline expired on December 31, 2011. [Forms and Additional Information]
Surface water permits and water rights with priority dates after April 12, 1984 are being administered for Minimum Desirable Streamflow (MDS) on portions of the Little Arkansas River above Alta Mills. More information about MDS administration can be found on our MDS webpage.
Supreme Court lets Kansas continue water suit against Nebraska - Kansas alleges Nebraska violated settlement and compact by overusing water from 2005 to 2006. See DWR's Republican River Compact and Enforcement website and the Attorney General's press release for more information.
The dam safety toolbox on our website has been updated to include fact sheets regarding, Conduit Inspection Repair and Renovation, Hazard Reclassification, High Hazard Emergency Action Plans, Significant Hazard Emergency Action Plans, Breach Inundation Maps, Dam Terminology, Selecting an Engineer, Dam Upgrading and Dam Safety Issues.
DWR is organized as follows:
- Water Appropriation - Manages the state's water supply through a system of permits, reviews and inspections.
- Water Structures - Regulates dams, stream modifications, levees and floodplain fills for the protection of life, property and public safety; also provides technical assistance and coordination to local communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.
- Water Management Services - Provides technical and data support to all agency water programs and includes the following sub-programs:
- Interstate Water Issues - Kansas is party to compacts that allocate water from the Arkansas, Big Blue, Missouri and Republican rivers.
- Basin Management Team - Works to develop water management strategies to address water resource issues identified in the Kansas State Water Plan.
- Interstate Water Issues - Kansas is party to compacts that allocate water from the Arkansas, Big Blue, Missouri and Republican rivers.
Links to Key DWR Web Pages
DWR Statutes and Regulations
DWR Forms
Your comments and suggestions are encouraged! Here is how to contact us.
