Hays asks Ellis for letter of support for R9 water project (VIDEO)

toby with camera — Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty tells Ellis City Council members the development of the R9 ranch can help water shortages throughout the region.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

ELLIS–The Hays City Commission is asking for letters of support from Ellis, Victoria and nine rural water districts as the lengthy regulatory process gets underway to develop R9 Ranch as a long-term water supply. The city of Russell owns 18 percent of the ranch in Edwards County.

Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, accompanied by commissioners Shaun Musil and Ron Mellick, attended Monday night’s Ellis City Council meeting.

“It’s going to trigger the state’s Water Transfer Act for the first time,” Dougherty said, “and we’ll be changing the water use from agriculture to municipal.”

Dougherty said engineers have determined the 8,000 acre-feet currently available on an annual basis is “a sustainable yield:”

Council members John Walz and Jolene Niernberger expressed their support.

Walz said “everyone needs to work together to reach a positive answer for the future.” He shared a suggestion given to him:

The city council decided to wait to sign the letter until after the April 1 election. Three council seats are up for election and a fourth is vacant.