24 May 2005

Governor Sebelius applauds state and city water agreement

HAYS, Kan. – With water being critical to the continued growth of the area, Governor Kathleen Sebelius was in town today to talk about the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on water issues the State of Kansas has signed with the City of Hays.

“A healthy Kansas depends on a good supply of clean water. The agreement we’re announcing today will help ensure that supply continues well into the future. This is a great example of city and state officials working together to preserve our water and our way of life,” said Governor Sebelius.

The MOU was signed by state officials from the Kansas Water Office, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Division of Water Resources at the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce on April 12. Hays city officials signed the MOU on April 28.

Details of the MOU follow:

With the cities of Hays and Russell having passed resolutions expressing interest in acquiring water from Wilson Reservoir to meet their water supply needs, the Kansas Water Office has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study to determine the quantity of water potentially available for municipal use from the Reservoir and the feasibility of water treatment options. The treatment study will be completed later this year. The reallocation study should be completed in 18 to 24 months. Should the studies prove to be positive, the Kansas Water Office will seek to acquire storage in Wilson Reservoir, request a water reservation right and add Wilson Reservoir to the State Water Marketing Program. This water will be made available for purchase by the City and other municipal and industrial users in the region.

The City of Hays has completed plans to re-design its Smoky Hill River well field to improve the ability of the wells to efficiently withdraw water available from the alluvial aquifer, as well as monitor the water level to limit negative impacts. The Kansas Division of Water Resources is currently reviewing these plans and permit applications.

City and state officials agree they will join together in efforts to acquire water rights in the Smoky Hill River alluvium among and adjacent to the city’s existing wells. These rights can be converted to municipal use for the city or retired, subject to approval by the Chief Engineer. Water rights retired upstream of the city’s well field not only will strengthen the well field, but could lessen the likelihood of releases from the state’s artificial recharge pool in Cedar Bluff Reservoir.

The artificial recharge pool will be utilized as intended in the 1992 federal reformulation of Cedar Bluff Reservoir and in accordance with the Kansas Water Appropriation Act under the rules of the Cedar Bluff Reservoir Artificial Recharge Pool Operations Agreement to assist all water users in the Smoky Hill River alluvium downstream of the Reservoir.

Other elements of the Hays MOU include:

Continuation of the Big Creek contamination remediation project and potential use of treated water from the project for municipal use.

Possible implementation of a Big Creek artificial recharge project, utilizing the city’s effluent to recharge the alluvium.

Cooperation in the perfection of the city’s water rights in the Dakota Aquifer.