2025 Kansas Economic Policy Conference – The Ripple Effect: Water and the Kansas Economy
The 2025 Kansas Economic Policy Conference was held on October 23 at the University of Kansas Burge Union, focusing on the vital role water plays in the Kansas economy. The event featured discussions on urban and rural water systems and policy, bringing together community leaders, policymakers, and subject-matter experts. Insights on the challenges and opportunities of water management across the state were shared throughout the day.
Welcome
Introduction
Barbara A. Bichelmeyer, chief academic officer, provost & executive vice chancellor, University of Kansas
The event opened with Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer, who welcomed attendees and introduced the conference theme, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in addressing the state’s water and economic challenges.
Keynote: The Kansas Economy and Water Resources
Donna K. Ginther, Roy A. Roberts and Regents Distinguished Professor, Department of Economics, director, Institute for Policy & Social Research, University of Kansas
The keynote address by Donna Ginther, director of the Institute for Policy & Social Research, examined the relationship between Kansas’s economy and its water resources. Ginther described how agricultural slowdowns and declining farm incomes are tied to the state’s reliance on water-intensive crops such as corn. She outlined Kansas’s water framework, noting that eastern regions rely on surface water while western areas depend on the High Plains Aquifer. Ginther also discussed reservoir risks such as sedimentation, algal blooms, and agricultural runoff, and highlighted Kansas’s strong water rights system as a foundation for coordinated water governance across multiple agencies.
Starts at 7:45 in video.
Morning Presentations
The Morning Research Presentations highlighted innovative research connecting science, data, and policy to improve water management and economic resilience.
Leveraging Data
Belinda Sturm, professor of civil, environmental & architectural engineering, director, Kansas National Science Foundation EPSCoR Program, University of Kansas
Belinda Sturm, director of the Kansas National Science Foundation EPSCoR Program, discussed statewide efforts to revise the Kansas science and technology plan to improve economic resilience and quality of life. She described how EPSCoR supports fundamental research that connects directly to state priorities, particularly through projects like ARISE, which focuses on reducing vulnerability to extreme events in underserved communities across Kansas. Sturm emphasized the importance of integrating data science, modeling, and local engagement to make research usable for city managers and local decision-makers. She explained that the Water Hub and EPSCoR initiatives are working to expand access to data through user-friendly dashboards, ensuring local communities can easily interpret and apply information from state and federal water systems.
Surface Water Quality
Ted Harris, associate research professor, Kansas Biological Survey, University of Kansas
Ted Harris shared findings from his research on harmful algal blooms in Kansas lakes and reservoirs. He explained how phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations drive these blooms, which can threaten drinking water safety, recreation, and local economies. Using examples from 12 monitored lakes in the Kansas River basin, Harris demonstrated how patterns in nutrient loading are influenced by agricultural runoff and land use. He also discussed the potential of sensor-based forecasting, which can detect indicators of water quality problems two to four weeks before a bloom occurs. Harris emphasized that using continuous monitoring and real-time data could help municipalities better anticipate and manage water quality risks.
Water Resource Management
Sam Zipper, assistant scientist, Kansas Geological Survey, assistant professor, Department of Geology, University of Kansas
Sam Zipper focused on groundwater depletion in western Kansas and the outcomes of the Local Enhanced Management Area (LEMA) program. He explained that since LEMA was established in 2012 to voluntarily reduce groundwater pumping, it has decreased water use by about 30 percent and slowed water table decline by about 60 percent. He also discussed the Kansas Sky Energy Center, a proposed research initiative that combines renewable energy production with water conservation and recharge efforts. This dual-use approach could enhance groundwater recharge and reduce Kansas’s climate footprint. Zipper’s presentation illustrated how locally led initiatives and integrated systems approaches can improve water sustainability in agriculture-dependent regions.
Urban Water Panel
During the Urban Water Panel, city leaders discussed their communities’ water challenges and the approaches they are taking to address them. Panelists spoke about water supply, aquifer sustainability, and water quality. They shared efforts such as Wichita’s recharge projects and reuse initiatives, Hays’s efficiency and conservation programs, and Garden City’s work on reuse and treatment systems. The conversation highlighted the importance of balancing infrastructure costs, regulatory frameworks, and long-term resource planning to ensure reliable supplies for both residents and businesses.
Introduction
Arash Mafi, executive dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Kansas
Panelists
Fred Jones, water resource manager, City of Garden City
Corey Keller, superintendent of public works, City of Dodge City
Toby Dougherty, city manager, City of Hays
Gary Janzen, director of public works and utilities, City of Wichita
Moderator
Deb Miller, chair, Kansas Turnpike Authority
Rural Water Panel
The rural water panelists emphasized that water is the backbone of the rural Kansas economy and that locally developed solutions have the highest potential for long-term success. Metzger discussed how the Kansas Water Institute supports research aligned with state water priorities and builds interdisciplinary collaborations. Durham focused on the value of local control through Groundwater Management Districts (GMDs) and the role of LEMAs in balancing water use with agricultural needs. Johnson addressed opportunities to integrate federal farm bill payments into water programs and the importance of sustained policy attention from state leaders.
Introduction
Mary Rezac, dean of the School of Engineering, University of Kansas
Panelists
Paul Johnson, policy analyst, Kansas Rural Center
Susan Metzger, director, Strategic Interdisciplinary Program Development and the Kansas Water Institute, Kansas State University
Katie Durham, district manager, Western Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 1
Moderator
Moderator: Deb Miller, chair, Kansas Turnpike Authority
Water and Policy Panel
In the afternoon conversation, water and policy panelists focused on legislative and regulatory issues shaping Kansas water policy. Panelists shared updates on the State Water Task Force, funding for the State Water Plan, and the development of consistent potable water reuse regulations. They discussed regional differences between groundwater and reservoir challenges, nitrogen and PFAS contamination, and the need for both quality and quantity management. The panel also covered regionalization, agency coordination, and funding mechanisms to sustain long-term water initiatives.
Introduction
Shelley Hooks, vice chancellor for research, University of Kansas
Panelists
Lindsay Vaughn, Kansas state representative, District 22, ranking member, House Committee on Water, Kansas Legislature
Kenny Titus, Kansas state senator, District 18, Kansas Legislature
Sandy Pickert, Kansas state representative, District 88, member, House Committee on Water, Kansas Legislature
Joshua Svaty, consultant, Gencur Svaty Public Affairs, LLC
Moderator
Jim McLean, senior contributor, Kansas Public Radio
Closing Remarks
To conclude the conference, Donna Ginther emphasized the integral role of water in Kansas’s economic and community development, highlighting the state’s continued efforts to connect research, policy, and practice in addressing water resource challenges. She emphasized that Kansas is a leader in addressing both water quality and quantity challenges, citing innovative local management approaches such as LEMAs and the continued role of Kansas Geological Survey data in informing water policy.