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 latest DWR Currents newsletter with information about the 2013 Dam Safety Conference, the revised penalty schedule for 2013 and the upcoming water use reports deadlilne of March 1.
Minimum Desirable Streamflow (MDS) orders have been issued for portions of the Little Arkansas River, Republican River, Saline River, Smoky Hill River and Whitewater River.
Image Right: Medicine Lodge River near Kiowa, KS on July 12, 2012.
Photo by Mike Holt, USGS.
House Bill 2363 includes several amendments to water structures permit requirements. Dams, stream obstructions, channel changes and floodplain fill projects are all affected by these changes. A guidance document implements those changes and resolves conflicts within current adopted regulations.
Additional information is available online about the proposed Sheridan-Thomas County Local Enhanced Management Area (Sheridan 6 LEMA).
DWR Approved Meter List: Current list of approved water flowmeters, forms and instructions (Apr. 2, 2013)
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.
