By John Schlageck

Kansas Farm Bureau

In case you haven't noticed, some of the larger cities in Kansas and our state government are taking an ever-increasingly hard look at water in this state. You might even conclude that these interested parties have designs on one of our state's most precious natural resources. One of the 2010 objectives identified in the Kansas Water Plan is to reduce water level decline rates within the Ogallala Aquifer and implement "enhanced" water management in targeted areas.

Other objectives including stabilization of groundwater levels and maintenance of sufficient stream flows have led to the establishment of stakeholder working groups within the Rattlesnake Creek, Middle Arkansas River and Pawnee-Buckner basins of south-central Kansas and the Solomon River basin of north-central Kansas.

These are only a few objectives listed in the Kansas Water Plan. Initiatives in the current plan and water management strategies either completed or being developed across the state will have significant impacts on the ability of farmers and ranchers to use water in the future.

State water law, in existence since 1945, provides for the establishment of water rights which can be protected and enforced based upon the priority to which the water right was established. The protection of senior water rights against the use associated with a more junior water right can require the state to step in and curtail use by the junior water right holder during times of shortage.

To assist farmers, ranchers and landowners keep up with water policy and the process of designing it, Kansas Farm Bureau is establishing the Water Issues Network (WIN). Agricultural producers who are concerned about the future management of our state water policy can participate in this process and provide a valuable and necessary voice from the country on these critical issues in rural Kansas.

Without participation in these critical decisions being made with regard to the future of Kansas water, farmers and ranchers interests may not be represented or protected. By remaining silent and uneducated, agricultural producers give up their privilege to help direct this process.

Few inputs in agriculture are more crucial than water. It is essential farmers and ranchers participate in decisions that will impact future management of our state water policy.

Date: 3/23/05