Posted on September 9, 2015 at 2:19 PM by Bill Sowers
The long droughts of late especially in US western states have consistently made the news within the past several years. Water is necessary for community, industrial and agricultural survival. It is also a draw for tourism and recreational use.
Through the years the United States Congress has set up various interstate river compacts between states who share a watershed or drainage basin in order to work out water rights. Damming or diverting rivers can deny regions downriver of water and these issues can sometimes be worked out between contending states via compacts before ending up in lawsuits.
Below are links to publications held at the Kansas Government Information (KGI) Online Library issued by Interstate River Compact Commissions which include Kansas membership. These documents include annual meeting reports, law case material and other information. They offer up a look at issues surrounding water rights among states and efforts to maintain a shared supply of water.