LKM Supports Governor�??s Call to Action for a 50-Year Vision for Kansas Water

Topeka, Kan. – On Thursday, Governor Sam Brownback told more than 550 attendees with diverse water interests at the Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas that now is the time to act and addressed the necessity of a 50-Year Vision for Kansas water in order to meet the state’s needs. The League of Kansas Municipalities (LKM) supports this effort and looks forward to working with interested parties on this critical issue.

The LKM Statement of Municipal Policy, which is adopted by the membership each year, has recognized the need for being proactive when it comes to the protection of the state’s most vital resource. On October 14, 2013, at this year’s annual LKM conference, the membership adopted the following:

•Water Quality. We support a clean and safe public water supply and the protection of public health and aquatic life. We endorse cooperative solutions to water quality challenges which address both point and non-point source pollution.

•Water Quantity. Government at all levels should aggressively pursue the conservation, protection, and development of current and future municipal water supplies. We support efforts to extend the life of reservoirs and to expand reservoir storage for use by municipal water suppliers. We support immediate state action, in consultation with municipal providers, to address over appropriated surface and groundwater resources.

•Water Planning. We support a reevaluation of current state water policy including increased municipal representation on the Kansas Water Authority; revenue sources and distribution for the state water plan fund; and the process for adopting the annual state water plan fund budget.

As vital stakeholders in this 50 -Year Vision process, the League of Kansas Municipalities and our members look forward to working with the administration to ensure our stakeholder issues are being considered and addressed in this vision.