Releases from Cedar Bluff Reservoir are currently scheduled to begin on May 5 and last through at least May 11. Residents along the Smoky Hill River from Cedar Bluff Reservoir downstream to the Schoenchen and Pfeifer areas should be aware of increased streamflow during this timeframe which could impact any property within the river channel.
On March 31, 2025, the Kansas Water Office (KWO) received a written request from the City of Hays to consider a release from the Artificial Recharge Pool contained within the Designated Operating Pool within Cedar Bluff Reservoir in Trego County. This request was followed by a subsequent request to KWO from the City of Russell on April 2, 2025, for a release of a portion of their water storage right from the Designated Operating Pool within Cedar Bluff Reservoir. After evaluation of the conditions and possible effects of requested releases, the Kansas Water Office has determined that streamflow and groundwater levels have declined to the point where releases from Cedar Bluff Reservoir are justified for recharge support for the wellfields of Hays and Russell along the Smoky Hill River.
These concurrent releases from the Artificial Recharge Pool and City of Russell water supply storage will provide recharge to the alluvium and enhanced streamflow in the Smoky Hill River below Cedar Bluff Reservoir, benefiting water rights in that reach of the river and allowing for any subsequent runoff from future rainfall events to extend further downstream beyond the Hays and Russell wellfields. These releases are estimated to have a half to three-quarters foot impact on reservoir levels at Cedar Bluff.
The KWO, the Kansas Department of Agriculture - Division of Water Resources as well as the Cities of Hays and Russell will monitor watershed conditions before, during and after the scheduled release. This monitoring will also provide the opportunity to evaluate any changes to streamflow and groundwater levels conditions that further precipitation events could make between now and the scheduled releases. The KWO will evaluate streamflow and groundwater level conditions along Smoky Hill River downstream of Cedar Bluff Reservoir and within the Hays and Russell wellfields and make adjustments to the release schedule as conditions warrant.