By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
In the coming weeks, the Kansas Department of Agriculture is expected to announce details of a water rights administration plan that will impact as many as 1,300 holders of water rights in south-central Kansas. Several civic organization leaders are being proactive with a letter sent to Gov. Laura Kelly, Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. Stafford County Eco Devo Director Ryan Russell said 32 leaders from five counties signed the letter.
"Caroline Dunn, who is the former executive director of our organization, was asked by the commissioners in Stafford County to create the letter," Russell said. "She and I and some other eco devo people from the different counties collected the signatures."
The issue stems from water rights issued to Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in 1957. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), which maintains the refuge, said junior water rights holders have infringed on the legally-protected water rights of the refuge. Local officials say further restrictions on those junior rights holders could have a $30-125 million impact on the region annually.
Related: Battle for water rights continues in Stafford County
"I think people don't realize the water issues don't just affect farmers, but they also affect the tax base, which the tax base pays for all the other things: the municipalities, the schools, everything," said Russell. "If we take a big tax hit it's going to affect any revenue to basically operate anything."
The letter was signed by county commissioners from Stafford, Pawnee, Edwards, Pratt, and Kiowa counties, as well as several mayors and superintendents in the region.
CLICK HERE to read the letter in full.