At the August 27, 2025 Hays Commission / Russel Council Joint Meeting, Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty stated that, despite legal objections raised, the state’s Water Hearing Panel is waiting on the Supreme Court ruling before it holds a statutorily required hearing on the R9’s approved water use change and transfer application. Per the Kansas Water Transfer Act (KWTA), the application to transfer more than 2,000 acre-feet of water over 35 miles is a multi-step process. The R9 process resulted in a 2019 50 page Master Order, including 32 separate orders giving contingent approval of the transfer and contingent approval for Hays/Russell to move forward with the R9 project. The upcoming KS Supreme Court ruling in the case by the Water Protection Association of Central Kansas (Water PACK) will determine if the R9 Water Transfer Master Order is upheld. At 9 a.m., December 15th, the Kanas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the R9 water transfer case.
Read more: Hays Daily News
