Farm groups stymie reorganization of Kansas water programs
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Powerful Kansas agriculture groups on March 1 blocked a bipartisan proposal to tie a big increase in funding for water conservation programs to a reorganization of state and local agencies that regulate water use.
The House Water Committee considered changes that would have made the official who issues permits for water use independent of the state Department of Agriculture and reduced the power of major irrigators in local groundwater management districts. The 283-page measure would have consolidated water programs under a new state water department.
But the committee instead approved a narrower proposal to set aside an additional $49 million a year for water projects and require more reporting by local water districts. It dropped the reorganization proposals.
The stripped-down measure goes next to the full House for debate. Water Committee Chair Ron Highland said he doesn’t know whether the reorganization proposal will be revived.
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