- (a) A proposed or approved water conservation area management plan may be amended or terminated, subject to review and approval by the chief engineer.
- (b) Each proposed amendment to an existing water conservation area management plan that adds additional water rights, authorizes additional diversion of water from a participating water right, changes the beneficial use of a participating water right, or expands the place of use of a participating water right shall be provided to the applicable groundwater management district for review, consistent with K.S.A. 82a-745(h), and notice of same shall be provided to all water right owners with a point of diversion within1/2 a mile of the boundaries of the water conservation area.
- (c) Each proposed amendment to a water conservation area management plan that removes a participating water right, reduces authorized withdrawals, or reduces the geographic boundaries shall be posted on the division's website without further notice, provided that the amendment does not increase flexibility to the remaining water rights.
- (d) Each proposed renewal or extension of a water conservation area on the same or amended terms shall be provided to the applicable groundwater management district for review, including any supporting information or reports based on the previous management plan term, and notice of same shall be posted on the division's website. The notice shall include any report, review or other information compiled by the division or participating water right owners regarding the effectiveness of the water conservation area management plan over its period of existence.
- (e) A water conservation area may be terminated by written notification to the chief engineer signed by the owners of all existing water rights in the designated area. Termination shall include a full evaluation of the water use to ensure compliance with the terms, conditions and limitations of the associated water rights.
- (f) If a water conservation area is terminated, each water right that exceeded its authorized annual quantity as allowed by the water conservation area management plan during the calendar year in which termination is approved shall be subject to an order of the chief engineer reducing its authorized annual quantity for the following calendar year by an amount equal to the amount by which the water right's authorized annual quantity was exceeded.
(Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 82a-745; effective April 10, 2026.)