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7-5-07
Lift of pumping restrictions
welcome
Kent Askren
For the first time in more
than five years, irrigators in the Lower
Republican River basin have been given the
go ahead to fully exercise their water
rights. Acting Chief Engineer David Barfield
made the announcement just last week that,
at least for the time being, the pumping ban
was being lifted.
Minimum Desirable Streamflow
(MDS) legislation was passed in the early
1980s establishing target flow goals at 33
locations on 23 Kansas streams. When flows
in these streams fall below the established
threshold, restrictions may be imposed upon
water right holders having a water right
priority subsequent to April 12, 1984.
Since 1992, this has become
the norm for the holders of some 177 water
rights in Clay, Cloud, Jewell, Republic and
Washington counties due to historic low
flows in the Republican River primarily
caused by over-development in upstream
states and ongoing drought conditions.
Lifting the restrictions,
even if only temporarily, is a welcome
relief to producers in these counties. It
provides them an opportunity to utilize
their water rights and finally see some
return on their investments.
Hopefully efforts to bring
upstream states into compliance with
Interstate Compact Agreements and enhanced
storage capabilities being studied will help
reduce the occurrence of MDS administration
in Kansas.
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