COWRA looking to tap S. Canadian River
Caleb Soptelean
Despite the disbandment of one local water trust, another one is continuing on.
The Central Oklahoma Municipal Water Trust was recently disbanded, but the Central Oklahoma Water Resources Authority is still looking for water for county entities.
The El Reno City Council recently appropriated $29,060 for COWRA in order to try to obtain water from the South Canadian River. El Reno has wells in the North Canadian River, but not the South Canadian River, said Mike Mathis, Oklahoma Water Resources Board attorney.
COWRA would have to work with local landowners to procure rights to the South Canadian River, Mathis said.
Mustang’s COWRA fee is $21,170, according to Mustang’s COWRA representative Richard Riley.
This is the second funding cycle for the organization since its inception, said Riley.
Eight Canadian County entities are members of the group, Riley said. These include Mustang, El Reno, Yukon, Piedmont, Okarche, Calumet, Union City and Canadian County.
The organization’s fees are determined based on population. Yukon’s fee is approximately $34,000, Riley said. Other members include Canadian County, $8,120; Piedmont, $6,000; Union City, $2,000; Okarche, $1,780; and Calumet, $900.
COWRA is currently working with Benham Group Engineers of Oklahoma City to try to obtain additional water sources, Riley said. COWRA is paying Benham Group $40,500 for a hydrological study. The study shows that in 2025, Canadian County will need nearly 20 million gallons of water a day at its maximum usage; almost double the current maximum usage.
On Tuesday, COWRA met and heard a proposal for water rights from Aqua Group of Oklahoma City.
Aqua believes they can meet COWRA’s water needs for the next 30 years through a well field that would be located between Lake Thunderbird and Stanley Draper Lake.
Aqua’s president Bill Varner said the business has the exclusive water rights to more than 16,000 surface acres from the Garber-Wellington Aquifer.
Aqua’s hydrogeologist Jim Roberts said they are proposing a well field that would be located in a portion of the aquifer that has very low arsenic levels.
Building a pipeline from the well field in Cleveland County would cost COWRA “a lot less than spending $200 million to pipe water from southern Oklahoma,” Roberts said.
Aqua’s attorney Rick Goodwin said the group has “lots of water that we already represent” and noted the company has proposed a contract to the city of Yukon.
“We think we’re a good fit for COWRA. We feel like we can provide you what you need … the only thing it takes is time.”
COWRA will be hosting a legislation luncheon at the Canadian County Regional Hospital at noon on Friday, Sept. 29.
COWRA recently inked a $20,000 contract with lobbyist Shawn Lepard.
Lepard said there is $140,000 left over in the state’s current budget. He believes COWRA might be able to obtain $40,000 to $60,000 of that amount. This funding could be used for such things as well drilling.
Caleb Soptelean
Despite the disbandment of one local water trust, another one is continuing on.
The Central Oklahoma Municipal Water Trust was recently disbanded, but the Central Oklahoma Water Resources Authority is still looking for water for county entities.
The El Reno City Council recently appropriated $29,060 for COWRA in order to try to obtain water from the South Canadian River. El Reno has wells in the North Canadian River, but not the South Canadian River, said Mike Mathis, Oklahoma Water Resources Board attorney.
COWRA would have to work with local landowners to procure rights to the South Canadian River, Mathis said.
Mustang’s COWRA fee is $21,170, according to Mustang’s COWRA representative Richard Riley.
This is the second funding cycle for the organization since its inception, said Riley.
Eight Canadian County entities are members of the group, Riley said. These include Mustang, El Reno, Yukon, Piedmont, Okarche, Calumet, Union City and Canadian County.
The organization’s fees are determined based on population. Yukon’s fee is approximately $34,000, Riley said. Other members include Canadian County, $8,120; Piedmont, $6,000; Union City, $2,000; Okarche, $1,780; and Calumet, $900.
COWRA is currently working with Benham Group Engineers of Oklahoma City to try to obtain additional water sources, Riley said. COWRA is paying Benham Group $40,500 for a hydrological study. The study shows that in 2025, Canadian County will need nearly 20 million gallons of water a day at its maximum usage; almost double the current maximum usage.
On Tuesday, COWRA met and heard a proposal for water rights from Aqua Group of Oklahoma City.
Aqua believes they can meet COWRA’s water needs for the next 30 years through a well field that would be located between Lake Thunderbird and Stanley Draper Lake.
Aqua’s president Bill Varner said the business has the exclusive water rights to more than 16,000 surface acres from the Garber-Wellington Aquifer.
Aqua’s hydrogeologist Jim Roberts said they are proposing a well field that would be located in a portion of the aquifer that has very low arsenic levels.
Building a pipeline from the well field in Cleveland County would cost COWRA “a lot less than spending $200 million to pipe water from southern Oklahoma,” Roberts said.
Aqua’s attorney Rick Goodwin said the group has “lots of water that we already represent” and noted the company has proposed a contract to the city of Yukon.
“We think we’re a good fit for COWRA. We feel like we can provide you what you need … the only thing it takes is time.”
COWRA will be hosting a legislation luncheon at the Canadian County Regional Hospital at noon on Friday, Sept. 29.
COWRA recently inked a $20,000 contract with lobbyist Shawn Lepard.
Lepard said there is $140,000 left over in the state’s current budget. He believes COWRA might be able to obtain $40,000 to $60,000 of that amount. This funding could be used for such things as well drilling.
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