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Hays R9 water project nears KDHE review completion; city says $11 million in federal funding awarded
Summary
R9 Project Manager reported the wellfield and 70‑mile transmission line designs are substantially complete and awaiting KDHE permits; the city said Senator Moran secured $11 million in Congressional Directed Spending for Hays to help offset R9 costs, and staff outlined on‑site ranch improvements and rising WIHA use.
John Braun, R9 Project Manager, told the City of Hays governing body on Jan. 22 that major components of the R9 raw water project are substantially complete and awaiting state review and permits.
Braun said the wellfield design — which includes seven wells, a 0.5 million‑gallon storage tank, a pump station and elevated storage at Schoenchen — has been mostly complete since the Basis of Design Report was submitted to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) in December 2024. He said plans and specifications for the 70‑mile raw water transmission line are 100% complete and were submitted to KDHE for permit review in October 2025; Burns & McDonnell received the first round of KDHE review comments on Nov. 25, 2025 and has responded. Braun stated the KDHE permit approval is separate from and independent of approval under the Water Transfer Act.
On land acquisition, Braun said the city has recorded easements and paid compensation for 115 of 130 tracts; 15 tracts remain (four in Edwards County, five in Pawnee County and six in Rush County). He said the design still allows either PVC or HDPE pipe to maintain competition on material pricing.
Braun described financing options and said the leading candidate is a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The City submitted a Letter of Interest in March 2025, was invited to apply in May 2025, and the loan application is nearly complete pending a preliminary credit rating from S&P required for submission.
Mayor Mason Ruder told the governing body that Senator Moran informed him and Commissioner Sandy Jacobs that Congressional Directed Spending requests were approved for the region: Hays will receive $11 million and the City of Russell $1 million to help offset R9 project costs. Commissioners thanked the senator for securing the funds.
City Manager Toby Dougherty said staff believes the city’s December 2025 Supreme Court argument went well and that the Transfer Panel will hold a final hearing as soon as the Court issues its ruling.
Chris Smith, R9 Property Manager, summarized 2025 site improvements at the R9 Ranch: five new livestock wells drilled, seven solar pumps and livestock tanks installed, 1.5 miles of cross‑fencing, plugging of 15 abandoned wells, removal/treatment of roughly 300 locust trees and 150 tamarisk, planting and maintenance of about 300 acres of native grasses, and targeted herbicide applications. Smith said pedestrian trackers installed at Walk‑In Hunting Access (WIHA) entrances show high utilization and that hunters are traveling from across the United States to use the property; he noted Edwards County sales tax revenue rose in 2025, which he linked to increased visitation though the exact economic impact was not quantified.
KDHE permit decisions, completion of the remaining easements, the S&P preliminary rating, and potential WIFIA approval remain key near‑term milestones for the R9 schedule.
