Groundwater Plan To Reshape Agriculture

A newly released draft action plan from Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 3 could bring major changes to agriculture and water use across Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Stevens and Morton counties as officials push for long-term conservation of the Ogallala Aquifer.

The proposal, recently submitted to the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources, outlines both voluntary and mandatory efforts aimed at slowing groundwater depletion across southwest Kansas. District leaders say action is necessary to preserve the future of agriculture, rural communities and local economies that rely heavily on irrigation.

According to the report, GMD3 estimates groundwater pumping across the district must be reduced by approximately 345,000 acre-feet annually — roughly a 21 percent reduction — in order to stabilize the aquifer and prevent further long-term declines.

For counties such as Stanton, Grant, Morton, Stevens and Haskell, the proposal could have significant impacts. Several areas within those counties were specifically identified in the report as locations where groundwater reductions may need to exceed 30 percent due to continued aquifer declines.

Among the highlighted regions are southern Hamilton and northern Stanton counties, southern Stanton and northern Morton counties, portions of Grant County, regional areas of Haskell County and sections of southern Stevens County. The report states some areas could reach stabilization goals within five years, while others may require decades of conservation efforts.

Agriculture remains the backbone of southwest Kansas, and officials acknowledged the economic concerns many producers have regarding reduced irrigation. Farmers throughout the region depend on groundwater to raise corn, wheat, sorghum and feed crops that support area feedlots, dairies and agribusinesses. The district estimates GMD3 counties account for more than one-third of Kansas agricultural sales.

The proposal notes concerns from producers about reduced crop production, declining land values and the fairness of imposing restrictions on operators who have already implemented water-saving practices. Others questioned whether Kansas producers could remain competitive if neighboring states continue unrestricted pumping practices.

Despite those concerns, district leaders say failing to act could create even more severe economic problems in the future as wells continue to decline. Modeling included in the report estimates the proposed conservation measures could preserve more than 4.8 million acre-feet of groundwater over the next 60 years compared to current trends.

The report also highlights growing concerns in sandy soil regions south of the Arkansas River, including portions of Stanton and Morton counties. Officials warned that as irrigation capacity declines, some land

may struggle to transition back to dryland farming. The district noted blowing sand and drifting dunes have already become increasing concerns in portions of the region where irrigated acreage has declined.

In addition to water quantity concerns, the report discussed worsening water quality issues across southwest Kansas. Communities along the Arkansas River corridor, including areas near Grant and Haskell counties, are facing elevated uranium and sulfate levels in groundwater supplies. The city of Lakin was specifically mentioned as recently investing approximately $6 million in a nano-filtration system to comply with federal uranium standards.

Under the draft plan, conservation efforts would largely be implemented through Local Enhanced Management Areas, commonly known as LEMAs, along with additional conservation incentives and regional management goals tailored to local aquifer conditions.

Public meetings discussing the proposal have already been held throughout southwest Kansas, including meetings in Johnson, Sublette, Plains, Cimarron and Garden City. District officials say public feedback will continue to shape the final version of the action plan before additional state review takes place.

For many producers and rural residents in Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Stevens and Morton counties, the proposal represents one of the most significant groundwater discussions southwest Kansas has faced in decades — balancing the immediate needs of agriculture with the long-term future of water in the region.