(a) Subject to existing water rights and the principle of beneficial use, the chief engineer may grant upon application made therefor temporary permits and extensions thereof to appropriate water in any case where the public interest in such water will not be unreasonably or prejudicially affected, except that the chief engineer shall not grant any such permit to appropriate fresh water in any case where other waters are available for the proposed use and the use thereof is technologically and economically feasible. No such temporary permit or any extension thereof shall be granted for a period of time in excess of six months. Each application submitted for a temporary permit or extension thereof shall be accompanied by an application fee of $200, or on and after July 1, 2028, a fee of $100.

(b) The chief engineer shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate and administer the provisions of this section.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to vest in the holder of any permit granted pursuant to provisions of this section any permanent right to appropriate water except as is provided by such permit.

(d) All fees collected by the chief engineer pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the state treasurer as provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 82a-731, and amendments thereto.