U.S. Water News Online
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Twenty agriculture groups are joining forces to oppose consolidation of the state's water agencies, an idea suggested to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius by one of her government review teams.
Opponents such as the Kansas Farm Bureau and the Kansas Livestock Association contend the current distribution of water programs among several agencies has worked well.
Sebelius has not commented on the idea, one of dozens produced last month by five teams she created after her November election to review government operations for possible savings and efficiency.
But Senate Agriculture Chairman Derek Schmidt said such a consolidation is ``ripe for consideration'' because of the state's budget crisis.
``We have such a diffuse structure,'' said Schmidt, R-Independence. ``That may be a luxury we can't afford.''
Currently, water rights issues are handled by the Division of Water Resources within the Department of Agriculture, while the Department of Health and Environment deals with pollution.
The 13-member Kansas Water Authority reviews water policy, with research and staff support from the Water Office. And the Kansas Conservation Commission administers water conservation programs and provides information to local officials.
At a news conference, the coalition of agriculture groups listed opposition to consolidating the water programs as one of its policy positions for the legislative session.
One reason is that water quality and water use are highly technical issues and it would be difficult for one agency to handle both, said Greg Krissek, lobbyist for the Kansas Corn Growers Association.
Coalition members also contend that no single agency can become too powerful if several are involved.
``You have to be careful, because those agencies have different missions,'' said House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney, D-Greensburg.
Schmidt said he doesn't see the state consolidating all water programs within one agency but that perhaps it should divide them among only two.
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