Hays’ long-anticipated bid to transfer water from a city-owned ranch in Edwards County for municipal use hit an unexpected obstacle, as a local organization dedicated to protecting farmers’ water rights presented its case last Thursday afternoon.
In a scheduled meeting of the Kansas Division of Water Resources at the Twilight Theater in Greensburg, KWR Chief Engineer David Barfield, along with representatives from Hays and Russell as stakeholders, presented the draft proposal outlining both the conversion of the R-9 Ranch’s agricultural water rights to municipal use and approval under the state’s Water Transfer Act.
The draft summary was presented as the public phase of the process allowing for statements in support or in opposition, including written statements directed to the KWR by July 12 as part of the public comment phase.
In an hour-long presentation that included supportive statements from representatives from Hays and Russell as well as Brian Meyer, representing the firm providing impact study information utilized in the transfer application, Barfield led the audience of about 100 farmers through the draft proposal, with contingent changes made since its filing on Jan 7, 2016.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)