McPherson IGUCA

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The Chief Engineer issued his Findings and Conclusions from the McPherson IGUCA Review and an Amendment to the McPherson IGUCA Order on February 26, 2020.

IGUCA Overview

In response to declining groundwater levels in McPherson County, the Board of Directors of the Equus Beds Groundwater Management District No. 2 (GMD 2) requested that the Chief Engineer initiate the Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area (IGUCA) process in February 1979. A public hearing was held in September 1979, and the IGUCA order was issued in March 1980. The order defined a control area and imposed two main corrective controls:

That the IGUCA area shall be closed to new appropriations excepting domestic, temporary and short-term permits
That water flow meters shall be installed on all groundwater wells excepting domestic and temporary wells.

Pursuant to K.A.R. 5-20-2, each of the eight IGUCA orders in effect before July 1, 2008 must be formally reviewed in a process that includes a public hearing conducted by the Chief Engineer. While a brief summary of the history of the McPherson IGUCA has been provided below, the 1980 McPherson IGUCA Order itself is also available and should be referred to for details of the hearing conclusions and corrective control provisions.

In 2016, DWR conducted a formal review of the March 28, 1980 order establishing the McPherson IGUCA. The purpose of the review was to determine whether excessive groundwater level declines were still occurring in the area, whether the rate of groundwater withdrawal in the area still exceeded the rate of recharge and whether the public interest required that the IGUCA designation be continued, and if so, whether there should there be any adjustment to the IGUCA boundaries or corrective control provisions.

DWR, in cooperation with GMD 2, developed the McPherson IGUCA Review Report, which was admitted to the record of the public review hearing conducted by the Chief Engineer in October 2016 in Hutchinson, KS. Oral and written testimony from DWR, GMD 2, and the McPherson Board of Public Utilities were presented at the hearing, and the Chief Engineer left the hearing record open for further submittal of written testimony through December 2, 2016, at which time the hearing record was closed.

History

February 13, 1979: IGUCA proceedings initiated by GMD 2 Board of Directors

Groundwater levels in the area were potentially declining excessively
Rate of groundwater withdrawal in that area appeared to exceed rate of recharge

September 18, 1979: Public Hearing

March 28, 1980: McPherson IGUCA Order issued

Closed the area to further groundwater appropriation
Required installation of water flow meters
Required the Board of Directors of GMD 2 to annually review all hydrologic information in the IGUCA and allowed them to request a hearing on any matter related to the IGUCA
Chief Engineer can amend the IGUCA if deemed in the public interest

October 14, 2013: MYFA Amendment

March 10, 2016: Draft McPherson IGUCA Review provided to GMD 2

May 10, 2016: GMD 2 Board reviewed the McPherson IGUCA Review Report and submitted no comments to DWR

October 4, 2016: McPherson IGUCA Review Hearing

November 2, 2016: McPherson IGUCA Review Hearing initial written testimony submittal deadline

December 2, 2016: McPherson IGUCA Review Hearing extended written testimony submittal deadline; Review hearing record closed

February 26, 2020: Findings and Conclusions from McPherson IGUCA Review submitted by Chief Engineer; Amendment Order Issued

Provided an accurate IGUCA boundary description in light of the July 2017 GMD 2 boundary expansion
Removed the requirement that water use reports from water users in the IGUCA be filed with DWR by February 1 of each year
Removed the requirement that the Board of Directors of GMD2 annually review all hydrologic information in the IGUCA