Kansas Starts Fighting Over Water Rights As Aquifer Dries Up

A glimpse at the beginning of dust bowl days for the Sunflower State . . . 

"From the perspective of WaterPACK irrigators, their livelihoods and the state’s economy depend on the groundwater from the aquifer. And diverting that water could lead to less water available for growing staple crops in the region like corn and wheat.

"The cities argue irrigators are already causing more water loss, with 95% of water use in the region being for agricultural purposes.

"Western Kansas gets almost 40 inches less rain than eastern Kansas due to the Rocky Mountains blocking the eastern flow of moisture.

"Surface water from ponds and lakes is hard to come by, so the whole region and its agriculture rely on water deep underground."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

These Kansas towns had a plan to secure drinking water. Farmers are trying to block it in court

Groundwater in western Kansas is a precious commodity. Hays and Russell are back in court to defend a plan to transfer water from a ranch in another county.