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GMD 3 outlines 25-year conservation plan, cites strong public turnout at outreach meetings
Summary
Groundwater Management District 3 told the Committee on Water it is pursuing district-wide conservation targets with region-specific timelines, plans to submit a draft to DWR before July, and held outreach meetings with hundreds of attendees to refine a long-term plan.
Groundwater Management District 3 presented a draft, long-term conservation plan to the Committee on Water that combines model-driven targets with extensive public outreach.
Jason Norquist, speaking for GMD 3, said the district has restructured board agendas and stepped up outreach to build buy-in for a plan that targets district-wide stability over a multi-decade horizon. Norquist described a stepped approach: some northern areas could reach Q-stable within 5–10 years while other southern areas may need 15–25 years of staged reductions.
Norquist said GMD 3 has used meter inspections and an "eye care" regional breakdown to analyze pumping patterns and ran model scenarios with the Kansas Geological Survey that showed the draft plan would keep more water in the ground than a no-action scenario. He also noted a temporary adoption of Division of Water Resources spacing rules for Dakota wells until AEM data are available.
Public turnout has been high: Norquist reported about 220 people at a Plains meeting (Jan. 21) and roughly 115 at a Cimarron meeting (Jan. 22). He said moderators helped capture structured feedback in breakout sessions so the board can fine-tune the draft before submitting it to DWR (Earl Lewis and field staff) for review; Norquist said the district is aiming to submit the proposal prior to July.
Legislators asked about incentives and whether prior conservation efforts would be rewarded. Norquist said the initial plan includes protections and a 90% backstop for high-end users and that prior conservation may be reflected in subsequent fine-tuning rather than initial deep cuts. He also asked the legislature to continue funding programs such as 2302 grants and ITI-style support and to keep open lines of communication between GMDs and lawmakers.
Norquist closed by inviting questions and encouraging legislators to attend a GMD reception that evening to speak with district staff and board members.
