Gov. Kelly Announces $9M Kansas Drought Mitigation Investment
TL/DR –
Kansas has received $9 million from the federal Inflation Reduction Act to fund two projects aimed at mitigating the impact of drought. The Kansas Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge, Storage, and Recovery Project will receive $7 million, while the Kansas Voluntary Agreements Program will receive $2 million. The first project is expected to provide water to Wichita at a rate of up to 100 million gallons per day and the second will conserve about 10,000 acre-feet by rotating temporary land fallowing or permanently retiring water rights.
Kansas Secures $9 Million for Drought Mitigation Projects Under Inflation Reduction Act
TOPEKA – Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has declared that the state will receive $9 million from the federal Inflation Reduction Act. This funding will support two essential projects to alleviate the impact of drought in Kansas and improve the state’s water quality and quantity.
As a result of over-appropriation and frequent droughts, numerous Kansas communities are now facing a crisis. These projects are seen as crucial steps in addressing this issue.
The Kansas Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge, Storage, and Recovery Project will receive $7 million. Located near Wichita, this water supply serves over 20% of the state’s municipal, industrial, and irrigation water users.
A further $2 million has been allocated to the Kansas Voluntary Agreements Program. This will be used to implement the Kansas Water Transition Assistance Program in either the Prairie Dog Creek or Rattlesnake Creek Basins.
The Equus project aims to recharge the Equus Beds Aquifer, supplying Wichita with up to 100 million gallons per day. This is achieved by diverting water from the Little Arkansas River into the aquifer. Meanwhile, the Kansas Water Right Transition Assistance Program intends to save approximately 10,000 acre-feet by rotating temporary land fallowing or permanently retiring water rights.
Governor Kelly has advocated for federal water funding to extend into Kansas, to protect family farms and ranches, small towns, and wildlife from the severe impacts of drought.
Representative Sharice Davids, a supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act, expressed her approval for the funds being directed to Kansas to combat the persistent threat of drought.
These funds follow previous investments of nearly $33 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for aging infrastructure, water recycling, and WaterSMART projects in Kansas.
The Inflation Reduction Act has earmarked $550 million for domestic water supply projects and $4 billion for water conservation projects in areas experiencing long-term drought. So far, the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation has announced 222 drought mitigation projects funded by the Act, totaling over $2.5 billion.
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