Hays, region could draw R9 water by 2022

It might be another four years before Hays draws water from its R9 Ranch 67 miles away in Edwards County.

But when it does, the city has promised the state of Kansas it will draw much less from the sandy soil than when the ranch was used for agricultural irrigation, according to Hays City Manger Toby Dougherty.

“We told them we had no desire to use this source in an unsustainable manner, and so we’ve actually agreed with a 30 percent reduction in our available water rights in order to get this done,” said Dougherty on Monday evening during a presentation on the project to the Ellis County Commission.

“We’re doing something that nobody else down there in the area is doing,” Dougherty said. “No other water right holders are lining up to take a voluntary 30-percent reduction of their water rights.”

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)