Kansas Water Office Release

Manhattan, KS – Today the Governor’s Water Vision Team shared input received so far with the Kansas Water Authority. This was the first time the KWA and attendees heard input from the stakeholder meetings that have been held throughout the state to date.

“The purpose of the workshop today was to define the major issues, priorities and ideas that will be used by the Vision Team to develop a first draft of the Vision,” Tracy Streeter, Kansas Water Office Director. ‘Over the next four to eight weeks the Vision team will be taking the guidance provided today to serve as the basis for the initial draft.”

The Team shared that while thousands of comments have been received, there have been many consistent themes and priorities shared by stakeholders to be addressed in the Vision. Attendees participated in a facilitated discussion related to the four following themes: Water Management, Water Conservation, Technology and Crop Varieties and New Sources of Supply.

Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey encouraged Kansans to be prepared to provide comment and direction during the next phase of the development of the Water Vision.

“To this point nearly 8,000 Kansans have participated in over 140 meetings,” McClaskey said. “As the first draft version is completed, the Vision Team will be hosting meetings throughout the state in June and July for public input of the preliminary document. The Vision Team wants feedback and direction on the themes and priorities that are being established today.”

Over 150 people participated in the workshop including members from the Kansas Water Authority, Kansas State Board of Agriculture, Governor’s Cabinet, Basin Advisory Committee Chairs, Ogallala Aquifer Advisory Committee, Reservoir Advisory Committee, State Conservation Commission Board, Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors as well as members of the general public.