Laws, Statutes & Regulations

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In 1917, the Legislature created the Kansas Water Commission and in 1919, the Legislature created a Division of Irrigation within the Board of Agriculture. In 1927, Legislature abolished both and conferred the authority, power and duties to the nearly created Division of Water Resources within the State Board of Agriculture (K.S.A. 74-506 et. seq.). In 1995 the Kansas State Board of Agriculture became the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Below is a listing of the many laws and delegated responsibilities conferred on the Division of Water Resources and the chief engineer thereof, and associated regulations. Copies of the current statues and regulations can be found on the Kansas Department of Agriculture's statute and regulation page.

Statutes, Regulations, Quarantines and Guidance Documents

Water

Conservation Measures Under the Conservation Districts Law
K.S.A 2-1915, 2-1919 and 2-1930

Water Projects Environmental Coordination Act
K.S.A. 82a-325 through 82a-327

Division of Water Resources
K.S.A. 74-506a through 74-506d
K.S.A. 74-510 and 74-510a

DWR Administrative Matters
K.S.A. 82a-1901 through 82a-1906
July 2017

Arkansas River Compact of 1949

Construction of Flood Control Works by Cities
K.S.A. 12-635 through 12-638 and 12-1616b

Design of Levees Regulations
K.A.R. 5-45-1 thru 5-45-23

Ex Officio Member: Kansas Water Authority
K.S.A. 74-2610 and 74-2622
July 2023

Floodplain Management Regulations
K.A.R. 5-44-1 thru 5-44-7

Groundwater Management District Act
K.S.A. 82a-1020 through 82a-1042
November 2018

Western Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 1 Rules and Regulations
November 2019

Equus Beds Groundwater Management District No. 2 Rules and Regulations
July 2017

Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 3 Rules and Regulations
June 2016

Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 4 Rules and Regulations
June 2016

Big Bend Groundwater Management District No. 5 Rules and Regulations
November 2019

Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area Rules and Regulations
September 2009

Irrigation Districts
K.S.A. 42-701 through 42-730

Junkyard and Salvage Control Act
K.S.A. 68-2201 through 68-2215
July 2010

Kansas Water Banking Act
K.S.A 82a-761 through 82a-773
2023

Guidance Document: Drought Term Permits

Kansas-Nebraska Big Blue River Compact – 1971

Kansas-Oklahoma Arkansas River Compact – 1966

Kansas Water Appropriations Act
K.S.A. 82a-701 through 82a-722, 82a-724 through 82a-734a, 82a-736, 82a-737, 82a-741 through 82a-745
May 2023

Kansas Water Appropriations Act Rules and Regulations
December 2021

The Levee Law
K.S.A. 24-126

Multipurpose Small Lakes Program Act
May 2021

Obstructions in Streams Regulations
K.A.R. 5-40-1 thru 5-40-106; 5-41-1 thru 5-41-6; 5-42-1 thru 5-42-5; 5-43-1 thru 5-43-5 & K.A.R. 5-46-1 thru 5-46-4
October 2008

Obstructions in Streams Statutes
K.S.A. 82a-301 through 82a-328
July 2023

Organization and Operation of Drainage Districts
K.S.A. 24-656 through 24-668
July 2014

Kansas-Nebraska-Colorado Republican River Compact – 1943

Rural Water Districts
K.S.A. 82a-612 through 82a-647
July 2019

Rural Water Supply Districts
K.S.A. 82a-601 through 82a-611

Smoky Hill Water Supply
K.S.A. 82a-2301 through 82a-2324
October 2011

State Water Plan Storage Act
K.S.A. 82a-1301 through 82a-1320

Water Assurance Program Act and Regulations
K.S.A. 82a-1330 through 82a-1348
K.A.R. 5-11-1 and 5-11-2

Water Litigation
K.S.A. 82a-1801 through 82a-1805
October 2011

Water Protection Fee
K.S.A. 82a-954

Water Storage Law
K.S.A. 79-201g and 82a-405 through 82a-410

Water Transfer Act
K.S.A. 82a-1501 through 82a-1508 July 2023