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.
Related News
From Archive
- OSHA issues 16 citations following fatal sewer confined space incident
- 27 pipeline safety violations tied to deadly Pa. chocolate factory explosion
- Contractor gas line strike triggers home explosion in Missouri
- LA recovery reports call for $650 million power line burial, major utility upgrades in Pacific Palisades
- Comprehensive microtrenching FAQ: Key insights on the Vermeer MTR516 microtrencher
- T-Mobile to expand fiber broadband infrastructure footprint with $4.9 billion Metronet acquisition
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility
- Cityside launches $100 million fiber build in Corona, Calif.
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion
Comments