Can other states learn from the steps that Kansas is taking to reduce the impact of water shortages?

In the last two weeks, I have discussed how Oklahoma’s urban areas are looking to build new water infrastructure to supply its thirsty citizens and farmers in the northern part of the state (Please see Oklahoma Water Battle).  In many states across the country (including Texas, California, Oklahoma and New Mexico), citizens and agriculture users face water shortages that cause significant economic and social challenges. Yet many states like California are pursuing costly infrastructure programs that do little to change the long-term supply challenges.  In the face of these issues, can we learn from states that are taking a pro-active approach to providing reliable future water supplies? In today’s post, I would like to explore some of the unique programs that Kansas is implementing to address this issue.

My recent blog posts have taken a tour through the mid and southwestern United States. All of these areas face critical water shortages due to the drought conditions. Kansas is no exception. The state has experienced drought in some parts of the state for over three years. The lack of water has put strains on crops and pushed up corn and feed prices. The lack of water resources has a ripple effect on all parts of the economy. In 2012 for example cattle ranchers in the state resorted to feeding their livestock excess candy, according to an October 10th article in Fortune Magazine. The candy, in many instances excess ice cream sprinkles or unsold Halloween candy sold for about $160 per ton, whereas feed corn topped out at about $315 per ton. (But I only wonder how a candy-corn fed steak tastes like?) Clearly, feeding cows excess candy corn is not a long-term solution to the drought Kansas and many agricultural areas in the Midwest face. So what are they doing?

Politics has played a key role in moving forward legislation to address the drought issues. Governor Sam Brownback helped to pass a series of laws over the past few years designed to help farmers conserve water in the lean years. The Economist wrote an interesting article in its September 28th print edition on this subject.  In the article, it quoted three pieces of seminal legislation to help farmers conserve water during drought years. The legislation includes:

  • The elimination of a requirement that forced water rights owners to pump a certain minimum amount of water each year to maintain their pumping rights. The change reduces water usage in years where there is ample rainfall because farmers are no longer required to pump water if they do not need to use it just to maintain their water rights.
  • The creation of multi-year water accounts, so pumpers can “carry over” water they conserve during wetter years to use in drier ones. The legislation wants to encourage water conservation during rainy years so that there will be more ample supplies for farmers in leaner years.
  • The final piece of legislation allows local farmers’ associations to organize and encourage orderly cuts in water consumption during leaner years of water supply.

In these instances, Kansas is taking a pro-active approach to cutting water consumption in the state. And from the projections that Kansas State University is making regarding the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer, users will need to conserve as much water as possible. Research from KSU says that only 3% of the Aquifer was depleted in 1960. In 2010, the figure stood at 30%. The research further projects that peak consumption will not occur until 2025. State officials hope that the new groundwater conservation measures will help to push back the date of peak consumption in Kansas and create a more sustainable path to using the state’s water resources.

So what can we learn? Many states, including the states I have covered in my posts over the past few weeks will have to put conservation measures in place to assure a long-term water supply in the state. I believe that these conservation measures will be palatable only if like Kansas, lawmakers get the input from the stakeholders that the measures will affect. We need to remember that drought affects lives and businesses directly, and the people who the drought affects have to be part of the dialogue to create solutions. Will other states will follow suit to the lead Kansas has taken on this issue? Only time and the states’ aquifers will tell.

 

 

 

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About Jeff Simonetti

Jeff Simonetti is the Vice President of Public Affairs at the Capitol Core Group and provides project management, business development, and policy/lobbying expertise to a variety of federal, state and local clients. During his tenure at Capitol Core, Jeff has among other projects helped a renewable energy company to secure authorizing resolutions in cities across Southern California. Prior to joining Capitol Core Group, Jeff was a Vice President at the Kosmont Companies, a real estate and economic development consulting firm. At Kosmont, Jeff was the project lead for cities looking to implement financing strategies such as Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts (EIFDs) and other post-redevelopment funding mechanisms. He also was the project manager for the Economic Development element of the Fontana General Plan Update. Jeff gained significant state and local government affairs experience as the Government Affairs Director at the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Southern California’s Baldy View Chapter. During his tenure at the BIA, he helped to found the annual San Bernardino County Water Conference, an event that gathers over 400 elected officials and business leaders in the region to discuss the pressing water policy issues that affect the community.