The southwest kansas groundwater management district no. 3 (GMD3) will develop action plans to address groundwater concerns in at least six priority areas currently being identified within its…

The Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 3 (GMD3) was awarded a $713,602 Project Grant under the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) Grant Program (CFDA 15.507). The grant funding will enable GMD3 to develop action plans to address groundwater concerns in at least six priority areas within its boundaries. The project will provide a framework for local water users, including agricultural irrigators, to collaboratively reduce water use, mitigate the effects of overuse, and restore wildlife ecology, while also better positioning the region to handle drought and severe weather events brought about by climate change. As part of the project, GMD3 will update its hydrologic model to help identify opportunities for less water-intensive crop cultivation and land use conversion. The grant award was made on September 17, 2024, with a scheduled completion date of June 30, 2027.

The southwest kansas groundwater management district no. 3 (GMD3) will develop action plans to address groundwater concerns in at least six priority areas currently being identified within its boundaries. District water users, who are primarily agricultural irrigators, face water supply threats from the depletion of the high plains aquifer, poor water quality in the arkansas river that increases reliance on groundwater supplies, and the need to balance agricultural production with ongoing efforts to restore native grasses and prairie in the sand hill area. The smartplan (prioritize, learn, actuate, navigate) project will provide a framework for local water users to collaboratively form action plans to reduce water use, mitigate the effects of overuse, and restore wildlife ecology, while being better positioned to handle drought and severe weather events brought about by climate change. As part of the project, GMD3 will update its hydrologic model to help identify where less water-intense crops can be grown or where irrigated areas should be converted to dry land, and to identify short-term and long-term costs and benefits. The project is supported by the upper arkansas river watershed group, wheatland electric cooperative, the kansas water resources institute, the city of garden city and other stakeholders.