Russell will seek water release from reservoir

The city of Russell will ask the state to release water from the Cedar Bluff Reservoir to recharge its wells along the Smoky Hill River near Pfeifer.
   
The council voted Tuesday to support the request from Russell public works director Arlyn Unrein. Russell owns the rights to 2,000 acre-feet of water in the lake.
   
Unrein says he will ask for an initial release of 250 cubic feet per second and then slow the release as the water heads downstream. He anticipates the city will need 1,000 to 1,200 acre-feet of water.
   
The Hays Daily News reports the date of the release has not been determined.
   
Russell's request comes about two weeks after water was released from the reservoir to recharge wells belonging to the city of Hays.