Pawnee-Buckner Subbasin Information
In July 1994, State Water Plan directed the need for further water resource management in the Pawnee River Valley. Kansas Department of Agriculture-Division of Water Resources was the agency identified as most appropriate to address the guidelines. The Basin Management Team was established in the Pawnee-Buckner subbasin in 1996.
The Pawnee-Buckner-Sawlog subbasin is located in south central Kansas. The primary stream system is the Pawnee River with the major tributaries Buckner Creek and Sawlog Creek. The subbasin includes all or part of the following counties: Edwards, Finney, Ford, Gray, Hodgeman, Lane, Ness, Pawnee and Scott counties. Representatives from only Hodgeman, Ness and Pawnee counties participated in the subbasin project.
A local committee of volunteers was formed to evaluate the hydrologic properties of the alluvial valley in order to make management decisions and to recommend long-term management strategies for water resources within the subbasin. The committee has recommended that the chief engineer amend the order establishing the Pawnee Valley Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area to include the part of the subbasin within Hodgeman and Ness counties, in addition to the area within Pawnee County and require water resource management during drought conditions. The committee submitted the proposed management plans to the chief engineer in February 2000.
Recommended Hodgeman-Ness Management Plan
Recommended Pawnee County Management Plan
The Pawnee-Buckner subbasin has a long history of water resource management.
- In 1976, the Pawnee County residents voted to be part of the Big Bend Groundwater Management District No. 5. The Board of Directors of the Big Bend Groundwater Management District No. 5 adopts and implements programs to prevent long-term groundwater declines. The Pawnee Valley programs include an aggressive safe-yield program and well spacing regulations to prevent direct impairment. Big Bend Groundwater Management District No. 5
- In 1978, the chief engineer declared a moratorium on the approval of new applications pending completing of studies on groundwater supplies. This was recommended by Big Bend Groundwater Management District No. 5.
- In 1980, Big Bend Groundwater Management District No. 5 requested the chief engineer establish an Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area in the Pawnee River Valley.
- In 1981, the chief engineer issued an interim order designating the valley as an Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area based on testimony at an administrative hearing. Pawnee Valley Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area
- In 1985, the safe-yield criteria for the Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area was amended
- In 1988, Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 3 changed its boundaries to remove Hodgeman County from its district boundaries.
- In 1989, the chief engineer established a moratorium on future appropriations in Hodgeman and Ness Counties along the Pawnee River, Buckner Creek and Sawlog Creek
- In 1996, the Subbasin Water Resource Management Program was established in the subbasin to work with locals to develop management options.
- In 2000, the subbasin committee submitted two management proposals to the chief engineer to amend the current Pawnee Valley Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area order. This was necessary to implement the drought contingency plan they were proposing.
- In 2002, the chief engineer closed the subbasin to future appropriations
- In 2006, the chief engineer issued an order to amend the current Pawnee Valley Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area order to include Hodgeman and Ness counties as requested in the management proposals submitted to the chief engineer in 2000.
- In 2007, the chief engineer issued an order to expand the boundaries of the Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area. A second hearing will be held to determine corrective controls.
Order Following Phase 1 of the Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area Hearing
Additional Pawnee Valley Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area Information