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Minutes for SB46 - Committee on Agriculture
Short Title
Water conservation area findings, notice and management plans.
Minutes Content for Mon, Mar 13, 2017
Vice-Chair Thompson opened the hearing on SB46 at 3:38pm.
Kyle Hamilton, Assistant Revisor, Office of The Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of SB46 and the statutes that it affects. (Attachment 1)
Susan Metzger, Assistant Secretary, Kansas Department of Agriculture, appeared before the Committee in support of SB46. She explained the purpose and benefits of Water Conservation Areas (WCA), current law, and the amendments made by the Senate. (Attachment 2)
Aaron M. Popelka, Vice President of Legal & Governmental Affairs, Kansas Livestock Association, appeared before the Committee in support of SB46. This bill will provide livestock facilities more flexibility is the use of their existing water rights under a WCA, while also advancing the goal of groundwater conservation. It also adds requirements for corrective controls for the efficient use of water for livestock watering and forage irrigation. (Attachment 3)
Kent Askren, Director of Public Policy, Kansas Farm Bureau, appeared before the Committee in support of SB46. This bill provides greater flexibility to existing water rights, while achieving the use of less water and remaining within state water law. It provides notification to nearby well owners of a proposed WPA so potential impacts can be aired to the Chief Engineer prior to implementation. (Attachment 4)
Written testimony in support of SB46 was received from
- John Donley Kansas Corn Growers Association (Attachment 5)
- Tracy Streeter, Director, Kansas Water Office (Attachment 6)
There were no opponents/neutrals of SB46.
The hearing on SB46 was closed at 3:46pm.
Vice-Chair Thompson adjourned the meeting at 3:47pm.
