In 1953, Kansas lawmakers passed the Kansas Watershed District Act, which allowed the formation of watershed districts throughout the state. Since then, local taxpayers developed 80 organized districts and reduced damage to croplands, pasturelands, and fences while decreasing the risk of floodplain scour and downstream erosion. Its projects reduce damage to more than 32,000 miles of road, almost 6,000 bridges and nearly 2,500 miles of railway lines. Those same projects provide benefits for all Kansans while focusing on environmental conservation.

Each year, Kansas watershed projects can protect $115 million in flood-damage reduction and continue maintenance, rehabilitation and operations projects at the local level.