Kansas Water Office outlines 2022 State Water Plan, five guiding principles and a 2024 implementation framework
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Summary
The Kansas Water Office summarized the 2022 State Water Plan and a new implementation framework that prioritizes measurable short‑term and 10‑year outcomes for aquifer conservation, reservoir restoration, water quality and public awareness.
The Kansas Water Office presented a detailed review of the State Water Plan and a new implementation framework intended to move planning toward measurable outcomes.
Assistant Director Matt Unruh traced the state's water planning history from post-1951 flood and 1950s drought responses through the 1981 creation of the Kansas Water Office and the 1984/2009 plan updates. He described the Kansas Water Authoritys membership and the 14 regional advisory committees (RACs) that provide local input to the plan and to the Authority.
Unruh summarized the 2022 State Water Plan, which sets five guiding principles: (1) conserve and extend the High Plains aquifer; (2) secure, protect and restore Kansas reservoirs; (3) improve water quality; (4) reduce vulnerability to extremes (flood/drought); and (5) increase public awareness of Kansas water resources.
The 2024 implementation framework that the office presented creates a two-year "ramp-up" (FY26-FY27) of concentrated investment and a 10-year set of outcomes through 2035. Example short- and long-term metrics Unruh cited include: supporting irrigation-technology upgrades and system audits to reduce pumping (e.g., technology upgrades for 10,000 systems and audits on 15,000 systems to target a 15% water-use reduction over ten years), pursuing in-lake sediment-management pilots (Tuttle Creek was cited), rebuilding statewide groundwater sampling networks (target: ~300 wells), and developing a statewide water-data dashboard and public awareness campaign.
Unruh and task force members discussed who is responsible for implementation: the Water Office is statutorily responsible to coordinate plan development and implementation, but implementation is carried out through partner agencies (KDA Division of Conservation, KDHE, KGS and other ex officio agencies), the Kansas Water Authoritys budget recommendations, and RAC input. Unruh noted the Water Authority has formed topical committees aligned to the plan: High Plains Aquifer Committee, Reservoir/Public Water Supply Committee, and Water Quality Committee. He said the Water Authority is preparing an annual report with policy recommendations to the governor and legislature before the 2026 session.
Why it matters: The plan and implementation framework set measurable goals and indicate where the Water Office will seek funding and interagency coordination. The Task Force focused on metrics, how the state will measure progress, who will be accountable, and whether program evaluation should be institutionalized.
