Limitations to Lower Nowood water project reviewed

WORLAND – The Washakie County Commission met on Tuesday and heard a variety of reports from county agencies, most notably regarding a water project on the Lower Nowood.

In the wake of the Town of Ten Sleep formally rejecting a proposal to supply water to the Lower Nowood Improvement Service District (LNISD) in 2015, the Wyoming Water Development Commission agreed to appropriate $1,696,600 in eligible funds, in the form of a grant, to provide the LNISD with water from a state-drilled well.

In late 2015, Ten Sleep Mayor Jack Haggerty introduced a vote at the regular monthly town council meeting to end negotiations with the LNISD. For the previous two years, the LNISD and the town had been crafting a water use agreement to potentially supply town water to residents of the LNISD, for a contract period of 30 years. The town council voted to end the agreement by a vote of 3-2. In the end, the town refused to remove an amendment that stipulated they have review of all new wells drilled within the district.

Now, working with Sage Civil Engineering and Survey of Cody, the LNISD is drilling a 1,400-foot deep water well 1.7 miles north of Ten Sleep, to provide a public water supply

system to Lower Nowood residents.

Engineers from Sage presented the commission with a set of questions regarding future placement of water lines to service the residents, compared to current right-of-way ownership by the county.

The engineers and county are not clear on access, due to Wyoming Department of Transportation changes to County Road 47, which, at seven points, enters and exits the county’s right-of-way.

County Planner David Anderson pointed out that the county is bound to the original right-of-way designations, despite changes made to the road by the state.

The county commission recommended Sage consult with the county attorney’s office before any determination could be made, regarding water line final placement and planning. Currently, Sage has plans to place the water line on the west side of the road, where available, with direct cutoff lines to residents and their property lines.

BIKE PATH TREES

Also on Tuesday, Guardian Flight County Manager Keith Van Brunt updated a plan to plant trees along the Worland walk and bike path, as a symbol of community gratitude from Guardian Flight.

Earlier this year, Van Brunt, who has been researching the project in coordination with the Washakie County Conservation District, proposed a minimum of three trees to start, to symbolize the three-man flight crew at Guardian.

On Tuesday, Van Brunt offered up a plan to plant four trees on May 12, with help from volunteers. The trees would provide shade and a wind block along the path and feature deer-proof base fencing. The planting event would also feature free T-shirts and a helicopter landing by Guardian.

Van Brunt also suggested possibly getting other first responders to join the effort in the future, planting trees representing the different departments along the path.

In other agenda items, the county agreed to move forward with a 10,000 cubic yard replacement of crushed gravel along the Upper Nowood Road, commonly referred to as Mahogany Butte.