MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Kansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications under the Water Right Transition Assistance Program (WTAP) between October 1 and November 15.  WTAP is a voluntary, incentive-based program that permanently retires privately held irrigation water rights in exchange for payment by the State of Kansas. It is intended to help restore aquifers and recover stream flows in critically depleted target areas.

The designated target areas include Rattlesnake Creek sub basin, Prairie Dog Creek basin and six ‘‘High Priority Areas’’ of Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 4. The WTAP rules and regulations, target area maps, application forms and other details are posted on the Division of Conservation website at http://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/division-of-conservation/water-conservation-programs

“WTAP provides irrigators an opportunity to stabilize water systems while being compensated at market rates,” Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Conservation Water Conservation Programs Manager Steve Frost said. “It works well for producers who are interested in estates or trusts, or looking for ways to generate cash flow from one area of a farming operation. Even just portions of water rights can be retired, and dryland farming is allowed after the transition.”    

Six “high priority” areas in the Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 4 (GMD 4) have been designated as eligible target areas by the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources chief engineer because of significant water level declines. The six areas have been determined to be in need of aquifer recovery and are now closed to further water appropriations. These six areas in Cheyenne, Sherman, Thomas and Sheridan counties are also the subject of additional management program protocols being discussed with landowners by GMD 4.

The Rattlesnake Creek Sub-basin is significant because of water issues being addressed by the state of Kansas, the Big Bend Groundwater Management District No. 5 and the Rattlesnake / Quivera Partnership. The “high priority” areas of this basin in Barton, Rice, Reno, Stafford, Pawnee, Pratt, Edwards, Kiowa, Ford and Clark counties have been determined to be in need of stream restoration and aquifer recovery and are now closed to further water appropriations.

The Prairie Dog Creek Basin is significant in requirements to maintain compliance in the Republican River Compact with the State of Nebraska. The “high priority” areas of this basin in Phillips, Norton, Decatur, Sheridan and Thomas counties have been determined to be in need of stream restoration and aquifer recovery and are now closed to further water appropriations.

WTAP is designed to achieve significant impact in meeting State Water Plan goals regarding aquifer depletion levels and stream recovery, as well as in maintaining interstate compact obligations and avoiding water right impairment issues. The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Conservation administers the program and Groundwater Management Districts and the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources assist with the implementation.

For more information, contact Steve Frost at 785-296-8964 or steve.frost@kda.ks.gov.