Water Right Services
KWRC provides a range of services related to water rights. Work is typically performed under a Consulting Services Agreement that defines the client’s needs and the services KWRC will provide.
Water right services offered:
- Evaluating whether existing water rights can meet future municipal or industrial water demands;
- Identifying opportunities to expand water supply portfolios, including safe-yield assessments and potential water-right acquisitions;
- Conducting due diligence reviews of water rights associated with potential purchases or transfers;
- Preparing new water-right applications and change applications for submittal to the Kansas Division of Water Resources (DWR);
- Assessing water-right limitations and potential compliance concerns;
- Developing strategies to perfect uncertified water rights; and
- Providing strategic guidance regarding DWR regulatory processes and decision considerations.
Examples of recent and ongoing work include:
- Assisting Kansas municipalities in evaluating and securing additional water supply options.
- Conducting due-diligence reviews of large industrial water rights for potential municipal acquisition.
- Preparing change applications to reactivate long-unused water rights.
- Providing expert testimony supporting municipal water transfer applications.
Water Right Reviews
Because KWRC is usually engaged when water rights questions involve significant complexity, our work typically begins with a careful investigation of the Division of Water Resources (DWR) records associated with the water right(s) of interest. This review includes analysis of DWR water right and water use data and obtaining, reviewing, and summarizing the scanned DWR files associated with the water right.
KWRC uses standardized methods and documentation templates, along with the assistance of a trained administrative assistant, to complete the initial stages of this review efficiently and consistently. This approach helps control costs while providing clear documentation for the client and for any additional work that may follow.
The result is a “water right review” that typically includes:
- A summary of key water right attributes and authorized quantities
- A review of the history of water use
- Identification of overlaps, limitations, or relationships with other water rights
- A map showing the surrounding “water right neighborhood”
- An inventory of key documents from the DWR water right file
When multiple water rights are involved, KWRC also prepares a summary of the relationships and potential limitations among the group of rights, which is often important for evaluating development options or regulatory considerations.
These reviews provide a sound foundation for addressing client needs, such as water right changes, division of water rights, due diligence evaluations, or other regulatory matters.
Additional services can be provided as needed, including expanded analysis of the surrounding water right neighborhood, water use trends, groundwater level changes, hydrologic characteristics of the area, groundwater model information, and relevant groundwater management district policies and practices.