TOPEKA, Kan. (KCTV) – Nearly $9 million is headed to projects in the Sunflower State meant to soften the impact of a statewide drought.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has announced that the Sunflower State is set to receive $9 million from the federal Inflation Reduction Act. The funds will go toward two projects meant to mitigate the impact of the state’s drought.
“Decades of over-appropriation and more frequent droughts have now put communities across Kansas in crisis,” Gov. Kelly said. “These projects will be instrumental in our work to increase our state’s water quality and quantity.”
State officials noted that the Kansas Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge, Storage and Recovery Project near Wichita is set to receive $7 million. This is crucial for more than 20% of the municipal, industrial and irrigation water usage in Kansas.
Meanwhile, Kelly indicated that the Kansas Voluntary Agreements Program was chosen to receive $2 million for the Kansas Water Transition Assistance Program in either Prairie Dog Creek or Rattlesnake Creek Basin. This will conserve about 10,000 acre-feet through the rotation of temporary land fallowing or permanent retiring of water rights.
When the Equus project is fully implemented, the Governor said it will recharge the aquifer and provide water to Wichita at a rate of up to 100 million gallons per day. The project will inject and infiltrate Little Arkansas River diversions into the aquifer.
Kelly noted that she has advocated for federal water funds to be extended into Kansas to help family farms and ranches, small towns and wildlife avoid the impacts of drought. Congresswoman Sharice Davids also voted for the Inflation Reduction Act and supported additional federal funds for the projects.
“I’m glad to see resources from the Inflation Reduction Act coming home to Kansas,” Rep. Davids (D-KS) said. “The ongoing effects of drought are a persistent threat across our state. This investment is a critical step to protect Kansans’ livelihoods, support the work our farmers do to feed the world and protect the economic security of towns across Kansas.”
Kelly indicated that the announcement builds on previous investments of nearly $33 million for aging infrastructure, water recycling and WaterSMART projects in Kansas.
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