SW Kansas Irrigators Annual Meeting and GMD3 Informational Meeting

Notice of the 64^th Annual Meeting

of the

Southwest Kansas Irrigation Association

Along with

Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District #3

Date: February 23^, 2022

Time: 9:30 – 1:00

 Lunch will be provided – please rsvp to Alicia at [email protected] or call 620.356.3021

Location – Building of the Grant Co. Fair Grounds Lawson Room

Ulysses, Ks.

Mark Rude, Executive Director for GMD#3 will be the keynote speaker. The topic of discussion will be House Water Committee Bill #2686 – reorganizing Kansas water out from under Agriculture and rural representation.

The 283 page bill:

• Creating the Kansas department of water and environment within the executive branch and transferring the duties of water rights, water conservation, environment, and water planning to such department,
• establishing the water and environment maintenance fund and the water and environment maintenance board,
• modifying election procedures to the general public and general elections for groundwater management districts, with unfilled seats appointed by the state water planning division.
• establishing a one dollar per acre-foot of authorized quantity annual fee on owners of water rights and permits to appropriate water,
• authorizing the chief engineer to issue certain orders without review by the secretary of water and environment,
• increasing water protection fees,
• establishing a civil penalty for obstructions in streams violations and establishing the water structures emergency fund

These are but a few of what is in House Bill #2686. If you would like a copy of the full bill you can email [email protected] and I will email it to you.