March 13, 2008
Contact:
Lisa Taylor
Public Information Officer
Kansas Department of Agriculture
(785) 296-2653
ltaylor@kda.state.ks.us
Lower Republican River streamflow information now online
TOPEKA -- The Kansas Department of Agriculture has launched a new web page to help water users in the lower Republican River basin access information about streamflow conditions and whether water use will be curtailed to reach minimum desirable streamflow.
The Lower Republican River Basin information is available at ../../appropriation/?cid=1388.
"This is the time of year I start getting calls from irrigators with questions about streamflow and water use, and I intend to tell them that most of the information is now online," said Katie Tietsort, water commissioner for the division of water resources Topeka field office. "The good news right now, of course, is that streamflow is adequate to allow water use."
Under Kansas law, when flow drops below an established threshold, pumping restrictions are imposed to protect existing water rights and to meet in-stream water uses related to water quality, fish and wildlife, and recreation. These minimum desirable streamflow requirements were made part of the Kansas Water Appropriation Act by the 1984 Legislature, and they affect only those water rights granted after April 12, 1984.
Last June, the chief engineer of the division of water resources lifted pumping restrictions that had been in place since 2002 on 177 water rights along the Republican River in Clay, Cloud, Jewell, Republic and Washington counties. The restrictions were imposed because streamflow remained below minimum desirable streamflow values. Heavy precipitation in spring 2007 brought back higher sustained flows.
In recent years, water users in the Republican River basin have been allowed to enter into agreements with the division of water resources to use at least some groundwater or surface water, even while minimum desirable streamflow administration is underway. The chief engineer decided to make consent agreements available again in 2008, but only if and when MDS administration becomes necessary.
For the time being, Republican River flows remain above MDS trigger levels. The agency will notify affected water users in the area if conditions change in the coming weeks and months requiring MDS administration.
Water right holders who want to know more about Republican River MDS issues are encouraged to check out the new web page or to contact the division of water resources field office in Topeka at (785) 368-8251 or Stockton at (785) 425-6787.