Fundamentals of Water and Water Rights SummaryCity of Salina
Study Session
June 13, 2011
Fundamentals of Water and Water Rights
Martha Tasker, Director of Utilities
Scott Ross, Water Commissioner
Stockton Field Office
Kansas Department of Agriculture
Division of Water Resources
The Division of Water Resources (DWR) administers laws and responsibilities, including the Kansas
Water Appropriation Act which governs how water is allocated and used; statutes regulating the
construction of dams, levees and other changes to streams; the state's four interstate river compacts;
as well as coordinating the national flood insurance program in Kansas. DWR provides sound
management of the state's water resources for proper conservation, management, regulation and
control of water and watercourses of the state.
Four field offices serve water users statewide and are located at Topeka, Stafford, Stockton, and
Garden City. Salina falls under the Stockton Field Office. The Stockton Field Office covers water
rights from both surface and groundwater sources. Each office is managed by a water commissioner,
who is the Chief Engineer's agent, and each is staffed with employees familiar with local water
issues. The Stockton Field Office's Water Commissioner is Scott Ross. Scott represents the Chief
Engineer in matters dealing with Water Rights and Water Structures in Northwest and North Central
Kansas.
The presentation will include:
• Fundamentals of Water in Kansas
• Kansas Water Appropriation Act
• History of Kanopolis Reservoir
• Water Rights — Smoky Hill River below Kanopolis
• Water Administration
• Modeling of Smoky Hill Valley Area
• Water Use Reporting
• Salina's Water Rights