The southwest kansas groundwater management district #3, located in kearny county, kansas, will convert 59,100 linear feet of earthen canal to pipeline

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded $1.0 million to Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District #3 under the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) program (CFDA 15.507) on August 4, 2025, to convert 59,100 linear feet of earthen canal to pipeline infrastructure within the South Side Ditch System in Kearny County, Kansas. This water conservation project is expected to achieve annual water savings of 543 acre-feet by eliminating infiltration and evaporation losses, with the reclaimed water remaining in the main stem of the ditch system for agricultural and regional water management purposes. The project completion date is June 30, 2026.

This award supports on-the-ground implementation of water infrastructure improvement under the WaterSMART program, which provides competitive, cost-shared funding across western U.S. jurisdictions for water management projects that advance conservation, efficiency, and sustainability objectives. The canal conversion project directly addresses drought resilience and water supply reliability in southwestern Kansas, a region heavily dependent on the Ogallala Aquifer, while improving overall water use efficiency through modern pipeline infrastructure.

The project is expected to result in annual water savings of 543 acre-feet, which will remain in the main stem of the south side ditch system. The project will improve water use efficiency and eliminate infiltration and evaporation losses.