UPCOMING EVENTS

CIRCLE K RANCH

AN OVERVIEW

Circle K Ranch is located in the Middle Arkansas sub-basin, approximately 5 miles Southwest of Kinsley. The ranch covers nearly 6,900 acres. The ranch has 57 wells under 30 water rights appropriated for 8,039 acre feet of water use.  Currently there are 41 irrigated circles growing a variety of crops.  Over 90 percent of the water pumped is for irrigation purposes.

CURRENT LAND USE

Circle K Ranch was purchased by the City of Hays in January of 1995. Hays later sold 18 percent interest in the ranch to the City of Russell. Both cities purchased the land as part of a long-term public water supply strategy to meet their projected water needs. Since purchase, the ranch has been leased to BET Farms for irrigated farming, recently under one-year contracts. Hays and Russell have proposed the sale of the ranch to the State of Kansas.

PROPOSED LAND USE

The Kansas Water Office is interested in the acquisition of the land in order to retire some of the water rights.  They believe that reduction of irrigation agriculture in this area along the Arkansas River will reduce pressure on the High Plains Aquifer. If the state acquires the property, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks would manage the land. This organization has been evaluating the property for conversion to native grasses and forbs that will stabilize the soils, reduce water use, and create wildlife habitat.

The current proposal is that the land would be converted to wildlife habitat over a period of years and a portion of the land would remain in production agriculture.  The questions of how many circles will be converted, in what sequence, and how quickly has yet to be worked out.

PUBLIC REACTION

Some people did not oppose the state's purchase of the land in order to ease pressure from irrigation on the aquifer.  There were also a number of people in Edwards and surrounding counties who expressed grave concerns about the state purchasing this land and the water rights.

POSSIBILITIES

~State may purchase the land.

~Hays and Russell could keep the land.

~The land could be sold to someone else:

            -Private individuals buying individual parcels of land

-A party other than the State could purchase the land (a private corporation or someone like the Nature Conservancy, for example)

Since Hays and Russell own the land, the ultimate fate of the property rests with them.

CURRENT STATUS

Governor Sibelius included funds for the possible purchase of the Ranch in her budget.  The Kansas Water Office and Department of Wildlife and Parks however,  did not pursue the purchase of the ranch through the 2004 legislative session.  It is their intention to bring the matter back before the legislature in 2005. 

The Edwards County office of Economic Development has additional information about the ranch and the possible purchase of the ranch.  If you are interested in learning more contact ECEDC at (620) 659-2711.