NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran told Hutch Post Wednesday that there has been progress in the negotiations between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other water rights holders in the Rattlesnake Creek watershed.
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has requested the state of Kansas to pause their application, determining that there's a water right impairment in the Rattlesnake Creek watershed affecting Quivira," Moran said. "That's a good development, because what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is requesting is further cooperation between the communities and the stakeholders, Quivira and the irrigators in that area, to find a way that is the right path forward that is not damaging to either side."
The eight counties in the watershed are Kiowa, Edwards, Pawnee, Barton, Stafford, Pratt, Rice and Reno. Stafford, Kiowa, and Edwards counties cover more than 82% of the watershed area.
"The Congressional Delegation and the Governor weighed in, asking for help from U.S. Fish and Wildlife," Moran said. "The Division of Water Resources, within the Kansas Department of Agriculture, will take the lead. I would guess most of the action will occur in Kansas."
The pause in the application is for one year, to allow everyone to come to the table and hopefully come to a solution that allows for enough water for everyone. The towns of Stafford, St. John and Macksville have water rights that are junior to the ones the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have as part of the claim that has been paused. The wildlife refuge holds a state water right that was established in 1957.
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