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Commission hears update on Cedar Bluff release planning and loss of BRIC funding
Summary
Staff described coordinated planning with the Kansas Water Office, Burns & McDonnell and USGS to potentially release Cedar Bluff water to top off well fields; commissioners were also updated that the federal BRIC program cancellation removed a potential $15.8 million in state funding for the regional water project.
City staff briefed the Hays City Commission on April 24 about coordinated planning for a potential release of water from Cedar Bluff aimed at recharging the Smoky Hill Aquifer and topping off municipal well fields, and discussed the impacts of the federal BRIC grant program cancellation on project funding.
Toby (staff) and Deputy City Manager Colin Belzer summarized that Hays and the city of Russell requested releases from Cedar Bluff. Russell's water rights are privately owned by the city of Russell (about 2,500 acre-feet), while Hays requested a release from state-owned joint-use pool rights for artificial recharge to the Smoky Hill Aquifer.
Staff said they had targeted May 5 to begin the release but planned additional monitoring calls to evaluate the effects of recent rain. Burns & McDonnell (engineering consultant), the Kansas Water Office and USGS are participating in monitoring. The city will use streamflow data and static water-level readings from USGS monitoring wells and the city's 12 wells to determine whether to pause a release if recent precipitation sufficiently recharges the system.
Toby explained that the two well fields (Hays and Russell) differ in aquifer response; Russell's alluvial areas historically soak up releases before they reach their wells, so joint releases have been used previously to saturate the system. Staff said a decision point on whether to proceed or pause the planned release would come after weekend monitoring and that staff would return with an update next week.
Commissioners also discussed federal funding. Staff described that the cancellation of the federal BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grant program at the federal level resulted in the loss of up to $15,800,000 in state money the city had been pursuing to help fund the regional water project. Commissioners expressed disappointment and said they would continue to work with congressional delegations and seek alternate funding sources.
Staff emphasized that the project remains proceeding but with tighter funding constraints; commissioners encouraged continued pursuit of state and federal funding and pledged to press elected representatives for assistance.
