Kansas Water Authority Appoints RAC Members
60 New Members Appointed to 14 Regional Advisory Committees
The Kansas Water Authority (KWA) approved the membership of 60 committee members at their December meeting.
These Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) members serve as local advisors to the KWA, representing all water users in the region, including public water suppliers, agriculture, industry, commerce, conservation, environment, irrigation, and more.
The RACs advise the Kansas Water Office (KWO) and KWA on local water-related issues and serve as a link to water management entities and their communities. They also create priority regional goals which advise statewide water planning.
The following members were recently appointed to a Regional Advisory Committee:
Cimarron
- Adam Gerrond, Ulysses – representing the Conservation/Environment category
- Luke Grubbs, Hugoton – representing the Irrigation category
- Matt Higgins, Elkhart – representing the Public Water Supply 2 category
- Andrew Moser, Hugoton – representing the Agriculture category
- Gary Boldt, Ulysses – representing the At Large Public category
Equus-Walnut
- Josh Bedel, McPherson - representing the Public Water Supply 3 category
- Richard Basore, Sedgwick - representing the Agriculture category
- Sara Miller, Burrton – representing the At Large Public category
- Daniel Clement, Wichita – representing the Industry/Commerce 2 category
- Daryn Martin, El Dorado – representing the Public Water Supply 2 category
Great Bend Prairie
- Veronica Coons, Great Bend - representing the Conservation/Environment category
- Jeff Holste, Burdett - representing the Industry/Commerce category
- Orrin Feril, Stafford - representing the At Large Public category
- Nick Higgason, Olmitz – representing the Agriculture 2 category
- Stacy Barnes, Greensburg – representing the Public Water Supply category
Kansas
- Dan Howell, Frankfort - representing the Agriculture 2 category
- Joey Filby, Topeka – representing the Water Assurance District category
- Laura Hines, Lawrence – representing the Industry/Commerce category
- Russell Plaschka, Wamego – representing the At Large Public 2 category
Marais des Cygnes
- Ron Brown, Fort Scott – representing the Conservation/Environment category
- Scott Yeargain, Ottawa – representing the Conservation/Environment 2 category
- Kaitlin Knauss, Parker – representing the Agriculture category
- Matt Garder, Louisburg – representing the At Large Public category
- Brandon Smith, Lyndon – representing the Public Water Supply 3 category
Missouri
- Michelle Wirth, Kansas City – representing the Public Water Supply 3 category
- Joel Mahnken, Leavenworth – representing the Public Water Supply category
- Chris Griffin, Troy – representing the WRAPS category
- Nicholas Poff, Leavenworth – representing the Public Water Supply 2 category
- Dan Bowen, Atchison – representing the At Large Public category
- Martin Simon, Atchison – representing the Wildlife, Environment, & Conservation category
Neosho
- Joe Buchanan, Council Grove – representing the Public Water Supply category
- Richard Hines, Erie – representing the Conservation/Environment category
- Jay Byers, Pittsburg – representing the At Large Public category
Red Hills
- Jeffrey Porter, Wellington - representing the Local Government category
- Mark Watts, Medicine Lodge - representing the Industry/Commerce category
- Brandon Grigsby, Ashland - representing the At Large Public category
- Ted Alexander, Sun City - representing the Agriculture 2 category
- Brian Withrow, Medicine Lodge – representing the Public Water Supply 2 category
- Loretta McGuire, Medicine Lodge – representing the Economic Development category
Smoky Hill-Saline
- Bevin Law, Longford – representing the Conservation category
- Dan Baffa, Salina – representing the Conservation/Environment category
- Herbert Graves, Jr., Chapman – representing the Conservation/Environment 3 category
- Lon Schrader, Abilene – representing the At Large Public category
- Steven Homburg, Ellis – representing the Agriculture 2 category
- Diana VanBruggen, Russell – representing the Small Public Water Supply category
Solomon-Republican
- David Pfizenmaier, Clay Center – representing the Industry/Commerce category
- Mike Brzon, Courtland – representing the At Large Public 2 category
- Sharon Sahlfeld, Beloit – representing the At Large Public category
- Donald Hellwig, Solomon – representing the Agriculture 2 category
- Patricia Remley, Miltonvale – representing the Conservation/Environment category
- Michelle Graham, Miltonvale – representing the Agriculture 3 category
Upper Arkansas
- Bill Simshauser, Lakin – representing the Conservation/Environment category
- Hugh Brownlee, Syracuse – representing the At Large Public category
- Monte Morgan, Deerfield – representing the Surface Water Irrigation category
- Fred Jones, Lakin – representing the Public Water Supply category
- Ryan Brady, Ingalls – representing the Agriculture Industry category
- Abram Lollar, Garden City – representing the At Large Public 2 category
- Christopher Harper, Deerfield – representing the Small Public Water Supply category
Upper Republican
- Scott Ross, Atwood – representing the Conservation/Environment category
- Dave Mann, Quinter – representing the Agriculture 2 category
- Brian Baalman, Menlo – representing the Industry/Commerce category
- Omar Weber, Colby – representing the Public Water Supply 2 category
- Sue Evans, Colby – representing the At Large Public category
- Debbie Potter, Colby – representing the Agriculture 3 category
- Brice Cronn, Colby – representing the Conservation/Environment 3 category
Upper Smoky Hill
- Farrin Watt, Leoti – representing the Agriculture category
- Katie Durham, Scott City – representing the Groundwater Management category
- Roy Dixon, Scott City – representing the At Large Public category
Verdigris
- Ken McNickle, Mound Valley – representing the Public Water Supply 2 category
- Ron Smith, Fredonia – representing the Industry/Commerce 2 category
- Pamela Walker, Altoona – representing the Conservation/Environment category
- Ben Brubaker, Coffeyville – representing the At Large Public category
- Michael Hall, Coffeyville – representing the Local Government category
The KWA is responsible for advising the Governor, Legislature and Director of the Kansas Water Office on water policy issues. They also ensure that water policies and programs address the needs of all Kansans as well as serve as advisors of the Kansas Water Plan. The KWA was established in 1981 and consists of 13 voting members who are appointed by the Governor or Legislative leadership. State agency directors serve as ex-officio members.
For more information about the RACs or KWA, visit the About Us page!