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Rich County delays signing watershed MOU; public hearing scheduled after NRCS clarification
Summary
County Attorney Ben Willoughby and Woodruff Irrigation Company Secretary-Treasurer Wally Schulthess reported NRCS requires Rich County to remain listed as a sponsor but the county may be removed from Table 1 (financial obligations); due to public questions the Commission agreed to hold a public hearing and continue the item to June 2026 to finalize an MOU clarifying Rich County's pass-through role and no financial liability.
Representatives from the county attorney's office and the Woodruff Irrigation Company updated the commission on the Woodruff Creek Watershed Plan Agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on May 13. Ben Willoughby said NRCS confirmed Rich County must remain listed as a sponsor per federal regulations but may be removed from Table 1 (financial obligations); an MOU between the county and the irrigation company would clarify the county serves only as a pass-through entity with no financial liability.
Because significant public questions and misinformation remain about the watershed map and the county's role, the commission agreed to hold a public hearing before signing and asked Attorney Willoughby to contact NRCS and JUB Engineering within two weeks to finalize the MOU structure. The item was continued to the June 2026 meeting for public comment and final documentation.
