Kansas Administrative Regulations
Agency 5 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
Article 3 - APPROPRIATION RIGHTS
Section 5-3-15 - Availability of water for appropriation-safe yield; surface water

Universal Citation: KS Admin Regs 5-3-15

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 39, September 26, 2024

(a) Each application filed to directly divert the natural flow of the Kansas river, the Missouri river, the Big Blue river, the Spring river, or their tributaries, shall:

(1) be processed in accordance with K.A.R. 5-3-9; and

(2) meet all other requirements for the approval of a new application.

(b) The water right owner shall be required by the chief engineer to meet minimum desirable streamflows (MDS), assurance district target flows (assurance target flows) and division of water resources (DWR) target flows where applic-able.

(c) Each application filed to directly divert the natural flow from any stream or tributary in the state of Kansas, except those streams listed in paragraph (a) of this regulation, shall have the following conditions of approval.

(1) If MDS or assurance target flows or DWR target flows have been set for that stream, and MDS administration has been requested by the Kansas water office, diversion of natural flow shall only be permitted if MDS, assurance target flows or DWR target flows, if applicable, are being met at the gage or gages immediately below the proposed point of diversion.

(2) Diversion of natural flow shall not take place unless there is water available to satisfy all demands by senior water rights and permits.

(3) The streamflow shall not be stopped at the first riffle below the point of diversion while diversion is taking place under the authority of that water right or permit.

(4) During the period October 1 through June 30, the verbal or written permission of the chief engineer, or an authorized representative of the chief engineer, shall be obtained in order to divert water each time the applicant desires to divert water.

(5) The applicant shall be required to demonstrate that the direct diversion of streamflow is not necessary during the period July 1 through September 30 each calendar year because of lack of need; the availability of adequate water storage or alternative water supplies; or other similar reas-ons.

(6) During the period July 1 through September 30 each calendar year, no direct diversions of water shall be permitted unless written permission is obtained from the chief engineer or the chief engineer's authorized representative.

(d) Each application filed by a member of an operational assurance district for that stream shall be processed taking into consideration the provisions of the assurance district contract.

(e) Each application filed for a point of diversion which might divert water released from storage pursuant to an agreement between the state of Kansas and the federal government shall be processed taking into consideration the provisions of that agreement.

(f) Each application filed to divert the natural flow of any stream subject to a more specific regulation adopted by the chief engineer or an intensive groundwater use control area order issued by the chief engineer, for a basin or portion thereof, shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of that regulation or order.

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