U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) have introduced the Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act, aimed at offering family farmers and ranchers the necessary flexibility to protect vital groundwater sources while maintaining agricultural productivity.
The legislation aims to establish a voluntary water conservation program in Kansas to address drought and groundwater reserves. Farmers and ranchers will collaborate with the USDA to reduce groundwater use, preserving natural resources and alleviating pressure on aquifers. This will ensure water sustainability for future generations.
Groundwater resources are crucial for rural areas because they provide a major source of irrigation and drinking water for countless family farms and ranches across the country. However, there is a loss in these resources that can have negative effects on local economies, ecosystems, and communities.
The Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act proposes a Groundwater Conservation Easement Program within the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service. Drawing inspiration from Colorado Open Lands' successful 2022 groundwater easement, the program encourages voluntary, compensated reductions in agricultural groundwater consumption while advancing local and regional management goals.
Key provisions of the legislation include:
- Establishing the Groundwater Conservation Easement Program to facilitate voluntary reductions in groundwater consumption and support local management objectives.
- Enabling NRCS to reimburse transaction costs and provide advance payments for limited resource producers.
- Offering long-term management flexibility, allowing producers to choose their preferred methods for reducing water use as long as their committed reductions are achieved annually.
- Ensuring fair compensation for farmers based on the market value of water rights rather than a per acre payment.
- Clarifying that easement funds are not included in a farm's adjusted gross income calculation and granting eligibility waivers to producers with an adjusted gross income exceeding $900,000.
The Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act receives widespread support, with organizations like Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 3 expressing gratitude for its financial and environmental benefits. This bipartisan effort is crucial for sustaining groundwater supplies, food security, and environmental preservation for future generations.
The Act aims to maintain a balance between agricultural production, water resource management, and conservation of groundwater-dependent ecosystems by introducing innovative, voluntary approaches to declining aquifers.
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Categories: Kansas, Government & Policy