The governor’s proposed changes to Kansas water-use laws are commonsense approaches that will encourage conservation and extend the life of the sprawling Ogallala Aquifer, state water officials said Thursday. The plans include ditching a use-it-or-lose-it policy that requires water rights holders, such as farmer and ranchers, to pump a certain amount of water each year or forfeit their rights. The policy dates to the 1940s when some of the state’s first water rules were implemented…

Read more...