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Irrigators seek Pratt County pledge to help lease water rights after Fish and Wildlife impairment notice
Summary
A regional group told the Pratt County Commission that a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service‑managed wildlife area has been declared impaired and could prompt large groundwater curtailments in 2025; the group asked Pratt County to pledge $50,000 to a multi‑county effort to lease water rights and buy time for a longer solution.
A representative of the Kansas Water Users Association and Pratt Feeders told the Pratt County Commission that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared a nearby wildlife area "impaired" and that state action could reduce irrigated groundwater use in parts of the Rattlesnake Creek Basin beginning in 2025.
The speaker—who said his group has raised or secured about $791,000 in cash and pledges to date—described a short‑term plan to lease water rights on a yearly basis so owners would not pump and thereby persuade the wildlife manager to forbear calling for water in 2025. "Our hope is that we can convince the U.S. Fish and Wildlife … to not call for water in 2025 so that we can continue to work toward a permanent solution," he said.
On the map shown to commissioners, the speaker said irrigators in some zones would face cuts ranging from roughly 40% up to about 80% of their water rights, and warned of broad impacts to land values and the county tax base. He asked Pratt County to consider a $50,000 commitment; Stafford and Edwards counties, he said, have already pledged $50,000 each.
Commissioners and staff discussed alternatives, including augmentation wells and pending environmental reviews by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. A staff member noted the groundwater management district and other groups are exploring augmentation wells near the wildlife area and that an environmental impact study timeline has slipped toward 2025.
The board moved into a 10‑minute executive session for attorney‑client privilege regarding the Rattlesnake Creek matter; the board later stated they would come out of executive session with no immediate action taken.
Why it matters: County leaders face a near‑term choice about whether to commit locally controlled funds to a regional leasing plan designed to delay state curtailments while a longer‑term solution is pursued. County financial support could help the local group demonstrate broader regional commitment when negotiating with federal and state agencies.
Next steps: The speaker said a multi‑group meeting is expected in Salina and that the Kansas division of water resources and US Fish and Wildlife will play roles in any final decisions; commissioners did not vote to commit funds during the meeting.
