Court of Appeals rules on Garetson impairment case

On January 11, the Court of Appeals issued its ruling regarding the Haskell County groundwater impairment case of Garetson Brothers vs. American Warrior Inc. The decision is posted on KDA’s web site at: https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/dwr/water-appropriation/impairment-complaints/vested-right-haskell-03, along with a previous Court of Appeals’ decision, the District Court’s decision, and Chief Engineer reports on the matter.

This decision upholds the permanent injunction issued by the Haskell County District Court against pumping by the nearby junior water rights found to be impairing the Garetson Brothers’ senior water right, rejecting the defendant’s procedural challenges.

tags: legal, impairment, GMD3, GardenCityFO…

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Arkansas River Compact Administration to Meet December 7 in Garden City

The Arkansas River Compact Administration (ARCA) annual meeting will be held on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. CST at the Clarion Inn, 1911 E Kansas Ave. in Garden City. The meeting agenda is posted on ARCA’s website at www.co-ks-arkansasrivercompactadmin.org.ARCA administers provisions of the Kansas–Colorado Arkansas River Compact, including operations of the John Martin Reservoir. Topics to be covered at the annual meeting include a review of John Martin Reservoir operations, compliance update, committee reports, and updates from state and federal agencies. ARCA will consider the continued use of a new source water to replace evaporation and potentially fill the John Martin Reservoir recreation account. A specific project that will be reviewed is the inspection of the stilling basin below John Martin Reservoir that is being done during the non-irrigation season.

ARCA’s Engineering, Operations, and Administrative and Legal committees will meet on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, starting at 1:00 p.m. CST, also at the Clarion Inn.

The annual meeting and committee meetings are open to the public. Individuals who require special accommodation should notify Stephanie Gonzales at 719-734-5367 at least three days prior to the meeting.

The Kansas-Colorado Arkansas River Compact was negotiated in 1948 between Kansas and Colorado with participation by the federal government. Its stated purposes are to settle existing disputes and remove causes of future controversy between Colorado and Kansas regarding Arkansas River water and to equitably divide and apportion the water between Colorado and Kansas, including benefits arising from John Martin Reservoir.

Tags: Arkansas River Compact, GardenCityFO, interstate, ARCA

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Wheatland Water Conservation Area approved on 3200 acres

A water conservation area (WCA) for the Wheatland Electric Cooperative of Finney County is the latest WCA approval.  Anticipated water savings is approx. 1200 acre-feet per year on 3200 enrolled acres. We now have over 35,000 acres enrolled in WCAs with annual savings approaching 6000 acre-feet per year. For more: agriculture.ks.gov/wca

Tags: WCA, Finney, GardenCityFO, GMD3…

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Kansas Leadership Journal is publishing a 7-part series on the Ogallala Aquifer

This week, the Kansas Leadership Journal is publishing a 7-part series on the Ogallala Aquifer, building the 2017 water tour. Part 1 is out this morning at: https://klcjournal.com/the-clock-is-ticking-on-dealing-with-western-kansas-drying-ogallala-aquifer/

Tags: Ogallala, Stockton FO, StaffordFO, GardenCityFO, GMD1, GMD2, GMD3, GMD4, GMD5…

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GMD 1 meeting on proposed Wichita County LEMA, Monday, July 30, Leoti

GMD 1 will hold an informational meeting regarding a proposed Wichita County Local Enhanced Management Area (LEMA) on Monday, July 30, 1:00, at the Leoti Community Building, 502 East M Street.

A meeting announcement and summary of the proposed plan is available on their web site at: http://gmd1.org/lema.html

GMD1, LEMA, GardenCityFO, Wichita county…

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