During their three days of meetings on Nov. 9, 10 and 12, the county commissioners met with United States Geological Survey official Ken Watts of Pueblo and Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District manager Terry Scanga to discuss water issues.

For a number of years, the county has been participating in a water quantity survey with USGS.

In the study, USGS officials monitor 60 wells spread throughout Custer County.

Each well is monitored twice a year—in the spring and fall—to check water level changes.

Cost to the county is some $7,000 a year.

The study is paid for through 2010. The county commissioners are considering suspending the study thereafter.

Before making a final decision, the commissioners wanted to meet with USGS officials to hear the advantages of continuing the study.

Watts told the county bosses the study helps to determine what will happen to water here in the future, therefore, it was a good idea to continue. ‘You need the background information to determine future water needs,” said Watts.

Watts also said it might be a good idea to add some newly drilled wells to the study and take out of the study some of the wells in the Sangres.

Scanga agreed saying the data received from the local monitoring of the 60 wells will benefit a water study the UAWCD is completing to study the quantity of water in the Upper Arkansas Basin.

The study will begin in 2010 and continue through 2012. Total cost is $406,912 with USGS paying $134,281.

Kicking in $6,000 is Custer County. Other entities helping to pay for the study include the Round Mountain Water and Sanitation District at $3,000, Fremont County at $15,000, Chaffee County and municipalities at $30,000, Penrose Water District at $6,000, and Canon City at $3,000.

The UAWCD is paying some $226,912 plus administration costs valued at approximately $24,000.

The commissioners did not make a final decision regarding whether to continue the water study in 2011.

The next county commissioner’s meeting will be held Nov. 30.

– Nora Drenner