by Doug Helmke, LG

Flow meters to determine wells’ impact on Solomon drainage

n November of 2004, the Division of Water Resources’ Chief Engineer signed orders requiring water flow meters to be installed on all non-domestic water wells in a large area of Inorth-central , to see if those water rights had the potential to affect the stream flow of the Solomon . The owners of water rights in this area, if their water right had not previously been subject to a metering requirement, received by certified mail: an order, a copy of the regulations regarding meters, a Doug Helmke copy of the “List of State- Source Water Tech Approved Meters” and a reporting form with possible to ask for an exception if older irrigation water rights, the instructions. All it can be shown that the meter is deadline to install and report the wells and intakes in accurate. Testing can be done by installation is May 1, 2005. the anyone that has been certified by Before issuing these orders, basin, including the the state and has the proper DWR compiled a list of all the Division of Water equipment. The Division of Water water rights in the five basins. The Resources (DWR) Resources can do this for you as wells located within Northwest recognized basins of well as your Kansas Rural Water Kansas Groundwater Management the North Fork Association Circuit Rider. The District No. 4 were removed from Solomon River, the and Salt For wells and intakes where no meter has been Creek, except those portions within Northwest Kansas installed, which would primarily be the case with older Groundwater Management District irrigation water rights, the deadline to install and No. 4, are subject to this order. (see http://www.ksda.gov/ report the installation is May 1, 2005. Default.aspx?tabid=204) Deadlines for installation and reporting vary. They are based on consideration under this project as the existing situation of the water same situation applies for the District has its own evaluation right. If an approved meter was approved meters that are not and management responsibilities. already installed, which is very installed per the regulations or the Water rights that had previous likely for public water suppliers, manufacturer’s recommendations meter installation requirements on the deadline to report the meter regarding upstream and the original permit or by water and its installation was January 1, downstream pipe obstructions and right change approvals in point of 2005. turns. diversion or place of use were also If a meter is installed, but it For wells and intakes where removed. Finally, water rights does not appear on the listing of no meter has been installed, which with a source of supply that was state-approved meters, it is would primarily be the case with not hydraulically connected to the

44 THE KANSAS LIFELINE March 2005 Solomon River or its tributaries users above Glen Elder Dam on Kirwin Dam and the confluence of were removed. The result was that both the North Fork and South the 534 orders were signed resulting Fork Solomon and between with Deer Creek, in the vicinity of in approximately the same number Kirwin Dam and Webster Dam Kirwin, Kansas, were ordered to of meters required. were ordered to install meters in install meters in 1992. With the Water meter requirements 1981. Groundwater users between recent orders, nearly all non- have been required in limited instances along the Solomon River for many years. It wasn’t long after it became a requirement that all non-domestic uses of water have water rights and that water use in excess of a water right was declared to be a violation in 1978 that the McPherson County Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area (IGUCA) order was issued requiring the installation of meters by June 1, 1980. On the same day that order was issued, Chief Engineer Guy Gibson also signed an order requiring meters for surface water users on the Solomon River between the Glen Elder Dam in Mitchell County to a bridge over the river southwest Source: [email protected], of Glasco, Kan., in Cloud County. The Drought Monitor, National Drought Mitigation Center These meters were to be installed P.O. Box 830749, Lincoln, NE 68583-0749, by June 15, 1980. Surface water 402-472-6707 - voice or 402-472-6614 - fax

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March 2005 THE KANSAS LIFELINE 45 Flow meters to determine . . .

domestic water users will be than normal stream flow is further understanding of how much has required to have a meter on their impacted by removal of been pumped and how much wells and intakes. groundwater. remains under the water rights and Because DWR has required Many times on the Solomon with accurate meters installed, it is meters in parts of Solomon River River, and on other streams, too, possible that compromises can be Basin since the earliest days of less water in the streams causes reached by the water users to water use regulation, one can safely conclude that water demand often exceeds water supply. This Another factor influencing the decision to order the has been especially true in recent years. According to the annual installation of meters is the Minimum Desirable summary maps on the U.S. Drought Monitor website Streamflow requirement of 40 cubic feet per second (http://www.drought. (c.f.s.) (September to January) to 90 c.f.s. (May & June) unl.edu/dm/index.html), there has been only one month that at least at the gage at Niles, Kansas, in Ottawa County. some part of Kansas was not considered to be experiencing regional drought conditions. These same maps show that Kansas impairment of water rights. Often share the limited resource. experienced severe conditions water right owners ask the DWR Sometimes, there is not enough during the second half of 2002 in field staff to investigate the cause water for anybody. western and north central parts of of the reduced or non-existent Another factor influencing the Kansas. As shown on the most stream flow, hoping that they will decision to order the installation current map at press time, drought find a junior water user who can of meters is the Minimum conditions continue to exist in be asked to cut back on their Desirable Streamflow requirement northern Kansas. Because more usage or ordered to stop pumping of 40 cubic feet per second (c.f.s.) irrigation is used to supplement to allow them the chance to use (September to January) to 90 c.f.s. less than average rainfall, lower water on their fields. With the (May & June) at the gage at Niles,

46 THE KANSAS LIFELINE March 2005 Kansas, in Ottawa County. When groundwater system can be the minimum value for the month learned. If it is learned that certain is not being achieved, the Kansas parts of the area are withdrawing Water Office can ask that water more water than is being naturally rights with a priority date after replaced by precipitation or April 12, 1984, be administered, groundwater flow, decisions to or prohibited from diverting water. reduce pumping can be made If any of these water rights exist while there is time to make them. and it is determined by DWR that If the data shows that more stopping the diversion of water appropriations can be given from the “junior” water rights will without impacting stream flow help the stream flow recover, they and existing water rights, areas will take that action. Meters can may be allowed to stay open. provide the information which Accurate water use data will helped decision-makers make fair provide more accurate decisions and helped users determinations of the facts of this understand how much water they very important resource. are using. If you will be affected by the Although meters can have a decisions made in the Solomon short-term impact with River basin, you may want to enforcement and administration of participate in this process. Contact water rights, the best use of them the Stockton Field Office of the is to collect data about water use Division of Water Resources, or throughout the Solomon River the Sub-Basin Water Resource Basin. With good data to Program of DWR in Topeka for understand the locations and more information on the past quantity of diversions, an results, future actions and understanding of the entire upcoming meetings.

March 2005 THE KANSAS LIFELINE 47