State Engineer Dick Wolfe has been intimately involved with both the Pioneer/Laird ditches litigation and the Republican River Compact compliance efforts since stepping into that position earlier this year. The Pioneer has asked him a few questions in regards to the potential $20 million buyout of the senior surface water rights along the North Fork of the Republican River. The Yuma County Commissioners and Yuma County Water Authority are proposing a $15 million bond issue (the other $5 million coming from the Republican River Water Conservation District for a 20-year lease on the surface water), which also entails the formation of the Yuma County Water Authority Public Improvement District. 

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