Kansas water task force opens with charge to identify risks, options and funding; state officials outline existing grants and fund structure

The bipartisan water program task force convened its first meeting to "identify the risks to current and future water supply, determine how to approach those risks, and find a way to pay for solutions," said Senator Kenny Titus, co-chair, at the opening of a Webex session that included legislators, state agency directors and local water managers.

The task force will begin by collecting information and hearing agency presentations, then move to designing approaches and, finally, recommending funding strategies over the next 18 months. Senator Titus said the group will accept public comment at some online meetings and at a planned first in-person meeting to be scheduled later.

Connie Owen, director of the Kansas Water Office, provided a state-level summary of water management roles, planning and funding. Owen said the water office does not regulate water but serves as the state—s policy and planning arm and prepares the Kansas Water Plan for review…