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GMD 5 unveils 50-year watershed plan, proposes well field and water-right retirement with federal support
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Summary
Orin Farrell, manager of Big Bend GMD 5, presented a public-review watershed plan for Rattlesnake Creek and described a proposed augmentation well field and a program to retire 2,500 acre-feet of water rights; he said NRCS has $4.2 million available for year‑one implementation and the plan is scoped at roughly $61 million with 75% federal funding.
Orin Farrell, district manager for Big Bend Groundwater Management District 5, presented the district's watershed plan for Rattlesnake Creek and outlined an augmentation and water-right retirement strategy intended to address long-term impairment of flows to Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.
Farrell said the 508-page watershed plan is in public review through Feb. 23 and, after a record decision by NRCS, would move toward implementation. He described two keystone components: a proposed well field located south of Quivira that would rely on about 50 shallow wells pumping roughly 250 gallons per minute each to augment flows, and a water-right retirement program that would target roughly 2,500 acre-feet in the Saint John region by purchasing rights at market value. Farrell emphasized the district would not "take" water rights; rather, it would pay for permanent retirements or leases.
On funding, Farrell said his office has $4.2 million currently identified in NRCS accounts for year‑one implementation and that the watershed plan is scoped for about $61 million total across implementation. He said approximately 75% of implementation costs are expected to come from federal dollars and about 25% would be the district's obligation (to be matched via carryover funds, state or private sources). Farrell said design and engineering would take roughly one to two years and projected initial well installations as early as 2027.
Committee members questioned salinity and placement. Farrell said Quivira is a salt-water marsh and the proposed augmentation would use relatively shallow wells to match the refuge's salinity needs; the district is coordinating with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Kansas Geological Survey to ensure delivered water meets applicable criteria. He noted action plans, additional observation wells, and outreach meetings were underway and that GMD 5's board had approved priority areas for technical review.
Farrell asked committee members to review the public plan and maps; he said outreach and additional planning meetings will follow before the district finalizes its action plan and submits materials to the chief engineer.
