The county commissioners are hiring a water attorney to review the proposed water augmentation plan the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District filed in court late last month. The commissioners have also decided to file an objection to the proposal, which if approved, would bring a blanket water augmentation plan to Custer County. The attorney wasn’t identified.

Action occurred during the county commissioners’ regular meetings on July 6-7. The decision was unanimous.

All three commissioners—Lynn Attebery, Jim Austin and Carole Custer—said they did not necessarily think the proposed water augmentation plan was a bad one, however, it was in the best interest of the county to have it reviewed by an independent expert. 

Also, in order to stay in the loop during the water court process, said Austin, it was necessary to file a written objection to the plan. Attebery and Custer agreed.

The UAWCD has been working to bring a water augmentation plan to Custer County since 2003. The purpose of the plan is to augment depleted wells and to address sources of water and water storage in the county.

Prior to submission, UAWCD officials presented the proposed plan to the commissioners during a public hearing.

At that time, the commissioners and others in attendance asked the UAWCD to delay submitting the plan to water court so they could have more time to peruse it.

The UAWCD board refused, saying they wanted to get the plan submitted before new water court regulations went into effect in July. 

A water augmentation plan is a way to obtain a legal source of water for “beneficial’  use, such as households, irrigation, watering livestock, recreation and municipal.

It could take up to three years to get the proposed water augmentation plan approved in water court.

– Nora Drenner