Division of Water Resources

Photograph of David Barfield Chief Engineer

 

David W. Barfield, P.E. - Chief Engineer (Biography)

The Division of Water Resources administers 31 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.

 


News:

Notice regarding proof of legal access or submission of a sworn statement with an Application to Appropriate Water for Beneficial Use Effective (July 1, 2009)

Arbitrator issues his final decision on Nebraska’s 2005-2006 violations of the Republican River Compact, June 30, 2009

Republican River Water Users Encouraged to Track Streamflow Conditions Online

DWR Currents for April, 2009

New Kansas Water Resources Publication Available Online PDF(7MB)

Revised Water Appropriation Rules and Regulations now available online 

 

DWR is organized as follows:

  • Water Appropriation - Manages the state's water supply through a system of permits, reviews and inspections.

  • Water Structures - Regulates activities affecting streams by ensuring that they are properly planned, constructed, operated and maintained for their authorized purposes without adversely affecting the environment, public health and welfare, and public and private property.

  • 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 with stakeholders to develop water management strategies within subbasins identified in the Kansas State Water Plan.

Links to Key DWR Web Pages

DWR Statutes and Regulations

DWR Forms

DWR Currents Newsletter

Your comments and suggestions are encouraged!  Here is how to contact us.