Assistance Programs

Assistance with Permitting or Applications

GMD1 works closely with the Garden City Division of Water Resources (DWR) on applications or permitting.  Even through the District is closed to new appropriation, the District's Board of Directors provides recommendations on term permits, spacing wavers and other projects.  The District Staff, on a day to day basis will help landowners complete and submit WRCP applications, Change of Place of Use forms, MYFA requests, etc.  The District likes to make sure we can help producers navigate through the process of completing and submitting any application to DWR.

Reviewing Water Rights/Permits

GMD1 has 2,379 water rights (2,120 IRR, 286 STK, 20 STK/IRR) and each water right has a different quantity (acre feet), authorized rate (gallons per minute) and place of use.  Since property is constantly being sold, purchased or redeveloped, it is a regular occurrence that staff will assist in providing technical or historical information/assistance on someone's water right.

Other Assistance Programs

The District provides GMD1  constituents with a quarterly newsletter and currently is discussing other efforts partnering with local NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Services) offices, County Conservation Districts and the Kansas Water Office (KWO) to engage in outreach, training or workshop events available to the public.  We are able to reach a greater audience and assist producers, landowners, and municipalities more efficiently when all the agencies are working together, so collaboration is key.  Lastly, the District has worked in the past and will continue to work with the Department of Conservation on Water TAP a program focused on retiring diminishing water rights for conservation or municipal use.

Conservation Programs

Cost-Sharing

The District has a robust cost-share program that provides financial assistance to growers within the GMD1 area, for implementing irrigation technology efficiencies.  The District has applications available in the office as well as on the website.  A producer simply has to fill out an application and submit it to the District along with an invoice.  Once approved by the Board of Directors the District will cover a portion of the cost to assist with the implementation of the water efficiency technology.  Examples of applicable cost-share technologies include but are not limited to the following; bubbler nozzles, efficiency regulators, sub-surface drip irrigation, moisture probes, water management applications or software, aerial field imagery, EC soil field mapping, pivot control systems, etc.  The District wants to make sure that everyone has access to these technologies and that the District can offset some of the financial burden placed on growers.

Irrigation Management

Many facets of irrigation management have to do with implementation of technology, water usage tracking and navigating an individuals irrigation management practices with pending or active water conservation programs, such as the LEMA or a Water Conservation Area (WCA) or Local Enhanced Management Area (LEMA).  It is common to spend time discussing these different facets with landowners, on how they will impact their individual irrigation system and applied management.  These conversations tend to lead to think-tank conversations where ideas can be shared, that staff may then bring before the Board for discussion.  Every landowner manages their irrigation systems a little differently and it is imperative that the District look at all possible approaches when deciphering policies and programs to implement, because these policies directly affect irrigation management.

Collecting or Monitoring Water Table or Other Water Quantity Data 

The District regularly coordinates with the Kansas Geological Survey to assess data collected through the Index Well Program.  KGS is currently looking to expand the Index Well monitoring program by a adding a few more monitoring wells within the District.  This data provides real time/reactionary data from the aquifer and helps to create a map of the hydrogeological system within the District.  KGS typically attends a few different GMD1 Board Meetings throughout the year and also presents a PowerPoint presentation at the District's Annual Meeting each February.  This data is carefully reviewed for trends, and helps to identify areas of concern, that helps the Board identify and develop conservation measures/policy/programs such as WCA's and LEMA's.  The Board is currently reviewing the management program and are planning to add additional measures pertaining to Water Quality Monitoring with KDHE.  The District is currently working to establish a Municipal Outreach Initiative as well as a Stock Water Outreach Initiative that would focus on engaging with these entities and providing additional outreach and coordination.  

Meter Maintainence

The District has a part-time field technician that helps all growers within GMD1 on meter compliance issues.  This individual provides several services including but not limited to; inspecting meters for compliance, assists in addressing concerns in order to get them back into compliance, preforms compliance checks for those growers enrolled in a 5-5-11 or other special state program, assures that all meters within the District have a visible seal to protect against tampering, replaces batteries in meters upon request from the grower.

LEMA-based Programs 

The primary use of District Staff time has gone to developing the Wichita County Water Conservation Area (WCA), the Wichita County LEMA, and the GMD1 Four County LEMA.  This work has been the primary day to day focus of the Board of Directors and District Staff for the better part of the last decade.  Daily activities, duties and staff work is dedicated to developing, implementing and tracking these programs and the data associated with them.  This includes but is not limited to; analyzing water use data, analyzing and assessing hydrologic conditions in the aquifer, public education and outreach, research and plan development, coordination with the District's legal counsel, the District's Consultant and various State Agencies.  The dollar amount associated with this work specifically reflects amounts paid to the District's legal counsel and the District's Consultant.  This amount does not reflect day to day work and involvement by District Staff.  Working on the GMD1 LEMA's encompasses the vast majority of Staff's time.