The Kansas Infrastructure Hub announced that the Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District #3 has secured $1 million to replace over 59,000 feet of earthen canal with 13,200 linear feet of pipeline in Kearny County.
This project, known as the South Side Ditch, will enhance water use efficiency, reduce losses from infiltration and evaporation, and curb uranium contamination in the High Plains/Ogallala Aquifer.
The funding includes $500,000 from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) through the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Grants Program and $500,000 in matching funds from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub and Build Kansas Fund.
Formed in 2022, the Kansas Infrastructure Hub aids communities in optimizing BIL funding. The Build Kansas Fund, which received $200 million in 2023, supports state matching dollars for projects that secure federal grants, contributing over $23 million in state investments and $31 million in federal grants.