District allocates water for first time since 2020

A somewhat divided Arch Hurley Conservancy District board of directors today allocated three inches of water per acre — the first time it had allocated water from Conchas Lake in over three years.

The vote was 3-1, with board member Debra Mitchell casting the only dissenting vote after a long pause. Mitchell and other board members — along with numerous ranchers and farmers in attendance — said they were torn between allocating water and preserving it for next year.

Board members, however, told the nine farmers and ranchers who attended today’s meeting not to expect any more water in the district’s canals this year so more water might be available for the 2024 growing season.

Board President Robert Lopez said though he was inclined to allocate water, demand for it would be meager because it was already past the point where cotton and corn could be planted, though farmers might use irrigation water for hay or grazing pasture.

District manager Franklin McCasland reported that Conchas Lake’s levels today stood at 4,176.4 feet, an increase of 2 1/2 feet from the previous month. The lake rose another 11 feet the month before that.

In July 2022, the lake’s level was just 4,159.5 feet — nearly 17 feet lower due to persistent drought.

McCasland said after the meeting it would take seven to nine days to charge the irrigation system with water. He said it would take three to five days for district workers to clean laterals.

McCasland said after the meeting it was the first allocation of water by the district since March 2020. Persistent drought prevented the release of water since then that time.

We’ll have more details about the meeting in the July 19 edition of the Quay County Sun.