This year’s “Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas” provided an amazing opportunity to learn from and network with water experts in Kansas’s own little apple, Manhattan. I attended alongside my colleague, DWFI Senior Program Manager Renata Rimšaitė, as part of a large gathering of local and national minds committed to sharing and discussing the most pressing water challenges of today. This year’s keynote speakers included local Kansas historian, Katie Keckeisen, and DWFI Director of Water, Climate and Health Jesse Bell. Although their presentations topics spanned from the Dust Bowl crisis to the origin of epidemiology, conference attendees quickly recognized that the common thread was, of course, water. The speakers’ historical insights set the stage for the next two days of deeper exploration into more contemporary water topics. Among the many takeaways, a few highlights particularly captured my attention.
Learning From the Field
On the first day, producers and participants of the Water Innovation Systems and Education (WISE) mentoring program, hosted by the Kansas Water Office, discussed the state program’s foundational intention and recent successes. As a newcomer to the world of Midwestern agriculture and irrigation, I found this particular panel to be extremely enlightening. Not only did the producers share their struggles in maintaining irrigation equipment, but they also brought to light the importance of irrigation efficiency and long-term analysis. Regarding this struggle, one farmer noted, “Farming is like a football game. You can come up with a game plan, but you are always second guessing.” The WISE program aims to provide resources for farmer-led decision-making by building community and forming a reliable network of knowledgeable and experienced peers. At DWFI, we strive to understand the motivations and struggles of producers and water users. Having the opportunity to hear firsthand accounts during this panel was an invaluable experience.
Urban to Agriculture Solutions
The second day of the conference came quickly, and Renata and I attended several different breakout sessions. One of my favorite sessions was held by the conference’s host city itself, the city of Manhattan. City staff and a team from Kansas State University (KSU) presented on the city’s new Alternative Offsite Stormwater Treatment Program. As an experimental alternative to the traditional method of meeting stormwater quality obligations, this program provides a creative solution that benefits both urban developers and producers. Typically, the city requires urban developers to provide a list of the stormwater mechanisms they will implement at a new site. Under the new program, developers have the option to contribute a one-time investment in conservation practices on nearby farmland. Farmers can opt-in voluntarily and receive financial compensation to implement practices such as cover crops, no till, terrace rehabilitation and vegetated buffers. Although this project is brand new, the city and KSU expect positive results. For me, this session highlighted a compelling bridge between my graduate background in urban water issues and my growing experience in agricultural water and policy at DWFI. It was inspiring to see a municipal initiative that echoed DWFI’s priorities to improve agricultural water management while also meeting environmental and human needs.
Moving Forward
As all good things must come to an end, the conference ended that afternoon with closing remarks from the Kansas State Water Office. This year’s conference brought many water challenges to the surface. Not every challenge was unique to Kansas, nor could every issue be solved by just one person. Hearing from so many experts and leaders in various roles truly emphasized the need for collaboration and cross-sector solutions. Attending this conference helped deepen my understanding of that need, as well as my comprehension of DWFI’s broader mission to find solutions by bridging research, policy development, communication and education together. It also contributed to my own personal goal, and DWFI’s mission, of expanding our network and reaching across boundaries. I hope to bring these new perspectives and insights back to my work at DWFI so that we can all better address water issues locally and around the world.
