Balancing the Books:Kansas’ Water Past, Present, and Future, ,

Image courtesy of USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science website, 2007

David Barfield, Chief Engineer

Division of Water Resources

, g2009 GWPC Water/Energy Sustainability Symposium

September 15, 2009

OutlineOutline• Kansas water resources and itsKansas water resources and its

development• Current and future water resourceCurrent and future water resource

challenges including water for energygy

• What are we doing/other potential approaches pp

• Closing thoughts

Normal annual precipitation (1961-1990) in Kansas.The area west of the dashed line shows the extentThe area west of the dashed line shows the extent

of the High Plains aquifer in Kansas (from Goodin et al., 1995).

15 20 40 4535 4030 3525 3020 2515-20 40-4535-4030-3525-3020-25

The mean annual runoff (in inches) in Kansas.

The areas west of the dashed line shows the extentof the High Plains aquifer in Kansas (adapted from Wetter, 1987).

Kansas surface water suppliespp

Reservoirs in KansasReservoirs in Kansas

Water development i tit ti l t tinstitutional structure

• Early development under commonEarly development under common (riparian) law

• Kansas Water Appropriation Act (KWAA), 1945 both groundwater and surface water1945, both groundwater and surface water in a single system

• Groundwater Management District Act, g1972. Motivated by declines in Western KS and desire for local input

• KWAA regulatory teeth 1978KWAA regulatory teeth, 1978• On-going water planning process leading to

refinements to water laws (e.g. purpose of f d l i t i t fl )federal reservoir storage, in-stream flows)

Planning and managementg g

• Water resources development largely p g yunrestricted before the late 1970’s

• Since then, increased management bySince then, increased management by DWR and GMD’s– Most new development highly restricted by p g y y

1980’s– Currently most of KS is closed to new water

rights or managed by “safe yield”– Yet little done to address over-development

howeverhowever.

NUMBER AND NET AUTHORIZED QUANTITY OF WATER RIGHTS

30,000

35,000

12,000,000

14,000,000

25,000

ES IN

YEA

R

10,000,000

15 000

20,000

PR

IOR

ITY

DA

TE

6 000 000

8,000,000

QU

AN

TITY

(AF)

10,000

15,000

NU

MB

ER

WIT

H

4,000,000

6,000,000 Q

5,000 2,000,000

01945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

YEAR

0

ACCUMULATED NUMBER APPROVED ACCUMULATED NET AF AUTHORIZED

Kansas water resources challenges

• Water for growth in cities and energy needs, esp. in KC metro and gy , pWichita metro– declining dependable supplies,declining dependable supplies,

reservoir sedimentation• Dealing with non-sustainable usesDealing with non sustainable uses

in west

Some power plants do not have a water right, and instead are served by municipal water systems. In addition, some power plants are served through water marketing contracts (reservoir releases) that are not part of the water rights held by the power plants.

Water for new uses (including energy)

I t l d t K• In central and eastern Kansas– New appropriations from surface water

d d ti KS d MO Riand productive KS and MO River alluviumsNew reservoirs– New reservoirs

• In western Kansas– Purchase and conversion of existing

water rights (typically irrigation)

Kansas ethanol grainsg

• Kansas has a total corn and sorghumKansas has a total corn and sorghum production of 700 million bushels in 20082008– Corn and sorghum are used interchangeably in

Kansas ethanol plants

• Approximately 180 million bushels of corn and sorghum are used for ethanol production

19

SustainabilitySustainability“[Meeting] the needs of the present without[Meeting] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”(Our Common Future, United Nations/Brundtland Commission, 1987)

Question: So where are we in relation to sustainability of our waterto sustainability of our water resources?

A All thAnswer: All over the map

Total Statewide Water Use, 1981-2005

6,000,000

7,000,000

5,000,000

4,000,000

feet

/yea

r

2,000,000

3,000,000

Acre

-f

1,000,000

, ,

0

Studies and modelingStudies and modeling

Working to nderstanding the ProblemWorking to understanding the Problem • Data collection

A l i / d li• Analysis / modeling• Stakeholder input• Management options• Integrated solutions

No “one size fits all” approach

Groundwater modeling lessonsGroundwater modeling lessons

• Models for water resource managementModels for water resource management require additional attention to detail – Clearly define model purposes – Diverse, engaged team with multiple

modelers and data experts J i t t ti f lt t d l– Joint testing of alternate model processes

– Robust data development and review • This process enhances model• This process enhances model

performance and acceptance by the regulated communityregulated community

Water Level ChangesFuture water level rises with no pumping in target areas

Future water level risesFuture water level rises with 30% reduction in target areas

Sustainability of reservoir yields i t d b t l t t di t tiimpacted by storage lost to sedimentation

45

30

35

40

s

20

25

30

Per

cent

Los

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on

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Mar

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ord

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rove

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wel

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Market-driven solutionsMarket driven solutions

• Private entities cities andPrivate entities, cities and corporations dealing with it – finding new suppliesnew supplies

• Groundwater mining concluding with sustainability for numerous smallsustainability for numerous small uses (GMD 1 scenario)

Explore and develop innovation solutions

• Aquifer storage and recoveryAquifer storage and recovery (Wichita) - Are there other locations where this could work?where this could work?

• City of Hutchinson – cleanup of contaminated water for municipalcontaminated water for municipal use. K A Di t i t• Kansas Assurance Districts

• Explore opportunities for enhanced recharge and expanded reuse

Hutchinson groundwater di ti /t t t j tremediation/treatment project

Targeted water use retirement programsretirement programs

• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

• Water Transition Assistance Program (WTAP)

Regulatory approachesRegulatory approaches

• Increased compliance andIncreased compliance and enforcement of water rights

• Explore full range of potential GMD• Explore full range of potential GMD and/or State actions to reduce allocations/use while maintainingallocations/use while maintaining maximum economic useE l i di i ti i• Exploring disincentives in agriculture to reduced water use ( i )(e.g. crop insurance)

All of the above and moreAll of the above and more

• Many solutions will combine localMany solutions will combine local and regional action

• What works in one area may not in• What works in one area may not in anotherLik d li ith b d t t f• Like dealing with a budget out of balance

• No silver bullets; just a lot of hard work

Parting ThoughtsParting Thoughts• Are sustainable water resources possible p

in Kansas?– Yes, but expensive and not easy– Solid framework in our laws water planningSolid framework in our laws, water planning

processes, significant coordination • When should we start?

It ill onl become more costl and diffic lt– It will only become more costly and difficult the longer we wait

• “Water resources professional job it t” ith “fi d” dsecurity act” – with “fixed” resource and

increasing demand, there will always be work to do