Minimum desirable streamflow (MDS) requirements were made part of the Kansas
Water Appropriation Act by the Kansas Legislature to ensure base flows
in certain streams to protect existing water rights and to meet
in-stream water uses related to water quality, fish and wildlife, and
recreation.
MDS is currently being administered on the following streams:
Little Arkansas River; 26 surface water rights / permits in the drainage area above the Alta Mills gage; to cease pumping by August 16, 2022.
Republican River; 78 surface water and groundwater rights / permits in the drainage area above the Concordia gage; 168 surface water and groundwater rights / permits in the drainage area between the Concordia and Clay Center gages; to cease pumping by September 30, 2022.
Arkansas River; 13 surface water rights / permits in the drainage area above the Great Bend gage; 12 surface water rights / permits in the drainage area between the Great Bend and Hutchinson gages; to cease pumping by November 6, 2023.
MDS administration has recently been lifted on the following streams:
Saline River; 14 surface water rights / permits in the drainage area above the Russell gage; to cease pumping by December 1, 2023; lifted January 4, 2024.
Whitewater River; 11 surface water rights / permits in the drainage area above the Towanda gage; to cease pumping by April 18, 2023; lifted January 10, 2024.
Little Blue River; 23 surface water rights / permits in the drainage area above the Barnes gage; to cease pumping by April 18, 2023; lifted February 7, 2024.
Chapman Creek; 11 surface water rights / permits in the drainage area above the Chapman gage; to cease pumping by September 20, 2023; lifted February 9, 2024.
Little Arkansas River; 19 surface water rights / permits in the drainage area between the Alta Mills and Valley Center gages; to cease pumping by October 16, 2023; lifted February 9, 2024.
The Division monitors 23 streams and rivers at 32 locations for MDS. When flows drop below a statutory threshold and remain continuously deficient for at least seven consecutive days,
pumping restrictions are imposed on water rights and permits granted
after the MDS provision was made into law in
1984.
All applications to appropriate water for beneficial use filed on or
after April 12, 1984 are subject to any MDS requirements identified and established pursuant to the following
statutes:
Any person who makes unlawful diversions of water while an MDS order
is in effect may be subject to criminal and/or civil enforcement under
the Kansas Water Appropriation Act, which may include the assessment of
civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day of violation and modification
or suspension of approved water rights or permits.
In order for administration to be lifted, streamflow must remain continuously above the
MDS threshold on the affected stream for a period of at least 14 consecutive days,
or else appear likely to remain above MDS for the foreseeable future.
Related Links:
MDS in the Lower Republican River
Basin
Overview
According to Kansas Administrative Regulation (K.A.R.) 5-15-4, MDS administration will occur in the Republican River basin when both of the following conditions have been met:
- Streamflow has remained continuously below the established MDS threshold for at least seven consecutive days; and
- The streamflow trigger value established in K.A.R. 5-15-4 has not been met for the preceding 60-day period.
Data
The following link shows stream flows in cubic feet per second (cfs) for the Concordia and Clay Center gages of the Republican River. The September MDS threshold for the Concordia gage is 80 cfs and the September MDS threshold for the Clay Center gage is 100 cfs as outlined by K.S.A. 82a-703c, K.A.R. 5-15-1(a)(1) and K.A.R. 5-15-4.
Republican River Flows, Concordia and Clay Center
*Gage readings may be affected by ice during winter months.
The 60-day criteria is computed as follows:
- Divide the mean daily flow for the day by the MDS threshold for
the day.
- Compute the average of the ratios computed in step one for
the previous 60 days.
Example:
The ratios described in step one have been computed for June 1 through
July 30 (60 individual ratios). On July 31, the average of those 60
ratios is computed by summing the ratios and dividing by 60. If that
average ratio is less than 1.5, the 60-day criteria for initiation of
MDS administration has been met.
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