Ky. Rev. Stat. § 151.113

Current through Acts Received April 18, 2024
Section 151.113 - Kentucky Water Resources Board
(1) The Kentucky Water Resources Board is hereby created for the purposes of assisting the cabinet in the implementation of KRS 151.110 and 151.112. The board shall be attached to the cabinet for administrative purposes.
(2) The Kentucky Water Resources Board shall:
(a) Assist the cabinet in conducting research and developing recommendations to enhance the quality of water resources accessible for agricultural production in the state;
(b) Research emerging water resources issues, including the adequacy of water supplies available for agricultural production and in rural Kentucky;
(c) Examine potential actions to address deficiencies in water supplies identified by the board;
(d) Make recommendations for developing new and reliable water sources for key areas of farm production in Kentucky;
(e) Develop and provide the cabinet with recommendations regarding water use efficiency for all agricultural water uses;
(f) Develop recommendations for a strategy to promote water conservation in agricultural uses;
(g) Develop and provide recommendations to the cabinet, the Department of Agriculture, and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission regarding on-farm and rural community drought and water assessment, monitoring, and improvements for agricultural purposes; and
(h) Request technical assistance from the following groups in order to establish a process for the collection and coordination of data on surface and ground water availability, water quality, the presence of point and nonpoint sources of pollution, instream flow, water withdrawal and use, flood damage and storm water management, and the identification and assessment of future data needs:
1. Kentucky Geological Survey;
2. United States Geological Survey;
3. Kentucky Water Resources Institute;
4. Interagency Technical Advisory Committee on Groundwater;
5. Soil and Water Conservation Commission; and
6. Any other water group the board deems necessary.
(3) The Kentucky Water Resources Board shall consist of eleven (11) members as follows:
(a) The secretary of the cabinet or the secretary's designee, who shall serve as chair;
(b) The Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture or the Commissioner's designee, who shall serve as vice chair;
(c) The dean of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment or the dean's designee;
(d) Six (6) members appointed by the Governor as follows:
1. One (1) member selected from a list of three (3) submitted by the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts, who shall serve an initial term of four (4) years;
2. One (1) member selected from a list of three (3) submitted by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, who shall serve an initial term of four (4) years;
3. One (1) member selected from a list of three (3) submitted by the Kentucky County Judge/Executive Association, who shall serve an initial term of three (3) years;
4. One (1) member selected from a list of three (3) submitted by the Kentucky Farm Bureau, who shall serve an initial term of three (3) years;
5. One (1) member selected from a list of three (3) submitted by the Kentucky League of Cities, who shall serve an initial term of two (2) years; and
6. One (1) member selected from a list of three (3) submitted by the Kentucky Rural Water Association, who shall serve an initial term of two (2) years; and
(e) The board shall have two (2) nonvoting liaisons who are members of the General Assembly, one (1) of whom shall be a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one (1) of whom shall be a member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate.
(4) Members appointed under subsection (3)(d) of this section shall serve a term of four (4) years and may be reappointed. A person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of a term shall be appointed for the remainder of that term.
(5)
(a) The Kentucky Water Resources Board shall meet at the call of the chair, and members shall not receive compensation for serving on the board.
(b) Six (6) members shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of conducting business.

KRS 151.113

Added by 2016 Ky. Acts ch. 39,§ 1, eff. 7/14/2016.