Wichita County LEMA

Map of Western Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 1, highlighting counties and groundwater management areas.

The Wichita County LEMA covers designated areas within Wichita County, whose portions fall inside the boundaries of Groundwater Management District No. 1. These areas are highlighted in the yellow area shown in the image above.

The Wichita County LEMA is effective 2020-2025. Renewal of the Wichita County LEMA is currently in progress and has the proposed effective years of 2026-2030.

Proposed Wichita County LEMA Request for Renewal

The image mentions a proposed renewal plan for Wichita County LEMA, submitted to the Chief Engineer on October 2, 2025.

Public Hearing: January 13, 2026 9:00AM (Central)

Wichita County Fairgrounds, 506 E. St., Leoti, Kansas 67861

Department of Agriculture
Division of Water Resources

Notice of Hearing

Pursuant to K.S.A. 82a-1041(b) and K.A.R. 5-19-3, notice is hereby provided that the Chief Engineer of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources (Chief Engineer) will hold an in-person hearing at 9:00 a.m. (Central Time) January 13, 2026, at the Wichita County Fairgrounds, 506 E. M St., Leoti, Kansas, to consider the proposed Wichita County Local Enhanced Management Area (LEMA) Plan submitted to the Chief Engineer by Western Kansas Groundwater Management District Number 1.

The hearing will be consolidated as provided for in K.A.R. 5-19-3 and will consider whether one or more of the circumstances specified in subsection (a) through (d) of K.S.A. 82a-1036 exist within the proposed boundaries of the proposed LEMA, whether the public interest of K.S.A. 82a-1020 requires that one or more corrective control provisions be adopted, and whether the geographic boundaries of the proposed LEMA are reasonable, and will also consider the LEMA’s proposed corrective controls, the likelihood that the LEMA plan will achieve the stated goals, and any other matters the Chief Engineer deems necessary.

Anyone may submit written or oral statements to be included in the record of the hearing. Oral statements will be accepted only at the public hearing. Written statements may be submitted at the hearing, in advance of the hearing, or following the hearing. The deadline for the submission of written statements following the hearing will be January 27, 2026. Written statements may be provided by mail to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, c/o Ronda Hutton, 1320 Research Park Dr., Manhattan, KS 66502, faxed to 785-564-6777, or emailed to ronda.hutton@ks.gov.

Earl D. Lewis, P.E.
Chief Engineer
Division of Water Resources
Department of Agriculture