Kansas Water Authority

TOPEKA–Recently in Hutchinson the Kansas Water Authority (KWA) adopted the final water supply goals for each of the 14 regions. The KWA also appointed Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) members to serve and represent various water users in their regions.

As part of the process for the Long Term Vision for the Future of Water in Kansas call to action, local stakeholders have been working for the past eight months to help develop water supply goals based on public input and available resource condition information for each of the 14 regions. Since being approved by the KWA, the priority goals will guide the newly selected RACs as they implement the priority goals for each region.

“The KWA and I want to commend the stakeholders in each of the 14 regions who put in so much time and effort to produce water supply goals to help ensure their area’s water future,” said KWA Chairman Gary Harshberger. “With Governor Brownback’s leadership on Kansas water priorities this will enable the KWA and KWO to change the way water planning will be done in Kansas going forward. I encourage all citizens to continue with this momentum and have an active role in implementing the strategies of the Water Vision for future generations to come.”

The newly appointed RACs main task will be to work with the KWA to ensure water supply priorities and goals of each region are implemented.

“As citizens of Kansas the time is now to start planning for a viable source of quality water for our future. Although most of us take our water for granted, we must realize water is not an unlimited resource,” said Verdigris RAC Chair Doug Blex. “I was honored to serve as chair of a talented team of volunteers who recommended a “grassroots” solution to the Authority to help solve Kansas water issues and look forward to helping lead the Verdigris region in now implementing those solutions as well.”

The KWA will encourage the RAC members to help implement the following Vision statement for each region:

Kansans act on a shared commitment to have the water resources necessary to support the state’s social, economic and natural resource needs for current and future generations.

“This aquifer is a finite, nonrenewable resource that we must manage to prevent the total collapse of our economy that would ensue with its depletion,” said Upper Smoky Hill Chair Shane Mann. “This whole process has highlighted the water issues all across our state. It is important that each region implement the goals to ensure the water supply can meet their needs now and in the future.”

In the coming months the Vision will be coordinated with other aspects of the Kansas Water Plan (KWP). The KWP is used by the state of Kansas to coordinate the management, conservation and development of the water resources of the state. It contains recommendations on how the state can best achieve the proper use and control of water resources. KWP implementation may be through legislation, funding, or focus on existing agency (ies)’ programs.

To read the final version of the Long-Term Vision for the Future of Water Supply in Kansas, view the approved water supply goals for each region or see the RAC meeting schedule, visit www.kwo.org.