Kansas Reservoir Protection Initiative

KRPI An initiative which provides financial assistance to landowners in priority watersheds to implement sediment-reducing conservation practices to enhance sediment reduction efforts above federal reservoirs where water supply storage is impacted by sedimentation. Initiative funding is currently targeted above Kanopolis, Fall River, John Redmond, Tuttle Creek, Perry, Pomona, and Hilldale reservoirs. Lands located in targeted sub-watersheds in portions of Atchison, Barton, Butler, Brown, Clay, Coffey, Douglas, Ellsworth, Franklin, Greenwood, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lyon, Marshall, Miami, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Republic, Riley, Russell, Washington, and Wabaunsee counties are eligible for assistance.

Overview

The 2023 Kansas Legislature increased funding in the State Water Plan Fund for watershed conservation practice implementation. The Kansas Water Office, along with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Agriculture – Division of Conservation (KDA-DOC) have developed an implementation plan for these funds to implement best management practices (BMPs) above priority water supply reservoirs where sedimentation is impacting available water storage in conjunction with local Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) projects and local county conservation districts. Priority sub-watersheds within the Tuttle Creek Lake (Kansas Region), Fall River Lake (Verdigris Region), John Redmond Reservoir (Neosho Region), Kanopolis Lake (Smoky Hill-Saline Region), Perry (Kansas Region), Pomona (Marais des Cygnes Region), and Hillsdale (Marais des Cygnes Region) watersheds will be the focus of watershed BMP implementation with SFY 2025 funding. Representatives from each of the 5 Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) located in these targeted areas will participate in the evaluation of applications and provide funding recommendations on eligible applications.

Purpose

Protect water supply storage and improve water quality in reservoirs across Kansas that provide water to municipal and industrial customers. This will be done through implementation of watershed BMPs within priority watersheds. These are individual or a combination of practices that are determined to be the most effective and practicable (including technological, economic, and institutional considerations) means of controlling point and non-point sources of pollution at levels compatible with resource and economic goals. BMPs which can be utilized to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff in watersheds above water supply sources in Kansas include but are not limited to terraces, grassed waterways, and buffer strips. Water storage is being diminished over time due to reservoir sedimentation. Water quality is being impacted by nutrient runoff, potentially resulting in harmful algae blooms, taste and odor issues with drinking water, and impacts to recreation in Kansas.

Eligible Areas

BMP implementation will be targeted in areas identified by using the most currently available assessment information that has been determined to yield the highest sediment reductions as well as have the highest impact on sediment inflows into these seven reservoirs. See the map for targeted areas included within the Kansas Reservoir Protection Initiative for SFY 2025.

Contacts

Landowners in eligible watersheds interested in participating in the Kansas Reservoir Protection Initiative can contact their respective County Conservation District or local Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Project Coordinator. Please see the link at the top of the page for local program contact information. For other inquiries regarding the Kansas Reservoir Protection Initiative, please contact the Kansas Water Office at 785-296-3185 or by email at kwo-info@kwo.ks.gov.

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