Kansas operates under the prior appropriation doctrine for water use, which is often described by the saying “first in time, first in right.” The water is dedicated to the use of the people, subject to the control and regulation of the state. Through obtaining a water right, users are granted a property right to put water to beneficial use, with earlier users given priority. The Kansas Water Appropriation Act (KWAA) and accompanying regulations are the laws in Kansas that govern the management of the state’s water resources. Adopted in 1945, the KWAA tasks the state’s Chief Engineer with administering the allocation and use of water, which includes issuing new appropriations, ensuring compliance with the KWAA through enforcement powers, and maintaining water right and water use records. The Chief Engineer’s position is currently housed in the Division of Water Resources within the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
Check out this resource on KWAA and the GMDs.
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