K.S.A. § 82a-719 (2026)
Distribution of water according to decree of court
82a-719. Distribution of water according to decree of court. Whenever the rights for the use of waters of the state shall have been adjudicated by any court, the division of water resources with the aid of its chief engineer and other officers and employees, shall aid in the distribution of such water according to such decree and shall distribute the water among the several ditches or water users pursuant to the decree; and shall have the power to open, close or adjust the headgates and regulate the controlling works of any ditch or structure, or cause the same to be opened, closed, adjusted and regulated so as to make a distribution of the water in conformity with the decree.
History: L. 1933, ch. 206, § 2; L. 1945, ch. 390, § 20; June 28.
CASE ANNOTATIONS
1. Discussed; state division of water resources has no authority over underground water rights. State, ex rel., v. Board of Agriculture, 158 Kan. 603, 610, 613, 614, 149 P.2d 604.
2. Third party's claims for injunctive and declaratory relief to prohibit impairment of the U.S. fish and wildlife service's senior water right in Quivira wildlife refuge remain redressable because the water division would be required to enforce the court's decree regarding the water right. Audubon of Kansas, Inc. v. United States Dep't of Interior, 67 F.4th 1093, 1106–09 (10th Cir. 2023).