Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Not a drop to drink

Once upon a time, the City of Sundance provided its thirsty citizens with water from a spring on land that today belongs to the Crawford family. Though it has been abandoned and its line has been leaking for the last 35 years, should the city have issue with the landowner exercising their water rights?

The answer to this question, posed to the council on Tuesday, was no. Warren Crawford attended the meeting to explain the situation and ask the council to monument within its minutes that it will not challenge his right to make use of the water.

The spring is one of two that date from the early 1900s, he said, and is situated on a couple of acres of city property within the borders of his own private property. It was discontinued more than three decades ago and for the last few years the pipeline leading to it has been leaking heavily.

Mayor Paul Brooks further explained that the city ceased to use the spring because the rules changed and surface water had to be chlorinated. Meanwhile, the well field had come online and the city had access to other water sources, so it was decided that the spring was no longer necessary.

Crawford informed the council he wishes to tap into the line above the leak to divert some of the water to a cistern, so it can be used instead of going to waste. He has already received permission from the state board of control to enlarge his water rights.

City Attorney Mark Hughes stated that he sees no reason that the city would be detrimentally affected while it is not using the water. Though he said Crawfords’ water rights are probably preceded by the city’s water rights to the spring, he also stated that Crawford still has the right to tap into it if the city is not using it.

The council passed a motion to support Crawford’s request to tap the Loafman Springs Outfall Line in order to make use of the water rights enlargement granted by the state.

 
 
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