By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The long-awaited beginning of the water transfer process for the cities of Hays and Russell from their jointly owned R-9 Ranch in Edwards County to Ellis County begins today.
Administrative Law Judge Matthew Spurgin will hear the arguments for and against annually moving 4,800 acre-feet of water 67 miles north to the Schoenchen well field south of Hays.
Spurgin is the same judge who oversaw the June 20 public comment hearing in Hays.
The hearing at the Hyatt Regency-Wichita could last 10 business days, through Aug. 2.
The judge will deliberate on the evidence and then will recommend his decision late this year or early next year to a three-person panel of state officials:
•Earl Lewis, chief engineer at the Division of Water Resources, Kansas Department of Agriculture
•Connie Owen, Kansas Water Office director
•Leo Henning, director of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Division of Environment
Collin Bielser, deputy city manager, said city staff members are feeling very confident about the outcome.
"We have plenty of evidence and expert witnesses that are going to testify on it.
"The big opposing group (Water Protection Association of Central Kansas) has said they're not opposed to the transfer. It seems everybody is okay with the transfer. It's all about how much water, and we've already committed to using less water than what we're legally entitled to for sustainability reasons. In Hays, of course, we feel [conservation] is important.
"I don't think there's any doubt the transfer will actually happen. People are clearly in support of it."
An attorney for WaterPACK, several nearby landowners and the Edwards County economic development director all said during the public comment hearing that they weren't against the transfer. However, each also said they believe too much water will be leaving Edwards County.
There are 7,647 acre-feet of water rights for irrigation on the R9 Ranch. Standard consumptive-use calculations show 6,756 acre-feet will be available for municipal use each year.
Hays and Russell voluntarily agreed to further limit actual use to a 10-year rolling average of 4,800 acre-feet.
The ranch is no longer irrigated and is being returned to native grass.
The cities must prove that moving the water is beneficial to the entire state of Kansas.
Hays and Russell are touting the region's growing $3 billion economy.
The water transfer hearing is not open to public comments.
It can be viewed on live video conference through www.zoomgov.com using Meeting ID: 160 634 1025 and Passcode: 401857.