Board hears DPW plan to extend Citizens Water withdrawals from Eagle Creek while bathymetric study proceeds; residents and advocates demand transparency

Department of Public Works general counsel Brian Kavanaugh briefed the board on a proposed amendment to the 1971 Eagle Creek Reservoir agreement that would extend terms through July 1, 2027 with options for successive one-year renewals through 2031 while the city completes a bathymetric survey and updated hydrologic analysis. Kavanaugh said the amendment would allow Citizens Water to continue withdrawing the "same amount of water" it has drawn in recent decades so that there are no disruptions in water service while DPW completes its study and negotiates a long-term replacement agreement.

Kavanaugh referenced historic assumptions in the 1971 agreement, saying DPW had determined the release of 2,600,000 gallons per day would maintain mean normal dry-weather flows downstream and that earlier data suggested at least 15,400,000 gallons per day of excess water would have been available even in worst-drought conditions. He also noted a 12,400,000-gallon-per-day withdrawal figure tied to the agreement's original water-supply assumptions. Board members asked whether Citizens has recently withdrawn amounts near the 12,400,000 figure; staff said some months—particularly wet months—have approached that level but withdrawals are often much less. Kavanaugh also said that as written the draft extension would not require an annual return to the board for each one-year renewal.

During public comment, Martin Risch (retired U.S. Geological Survey research hydrologist and member of the Eagle Creek Park advisory committee) urged a fact-based decision, praised the city’s decision to commission a bathymetric study and offered technical assistance. Residents and advocates—Donna Blair, Sarah Phillips, Amy Guzman and Megan Anderson (Sierra Club/Protect Pike Township volunteer)—raised concerns about water availability for future development (they referenced the LEAP site), wastewater discharge, lack of transparency, and the timing of pipeline and survey work. Anderson said more than 21,000 people have contacted the city on this issue (17,940 via a Change.org petition and 2,806 via the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter), argued there is no long-term water-supply and discharge plan for LEAP, and cited a figure that 25,000,000 gallons are already committed to existing tenants; she and others urged a public dashboard of metered withdrawals and a formal water-quality study.