Mountain Park Master Conservancy District Receives $15,350,000 Loan for Water System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mountain Park Master Conservancy District (District) received approval for a $15,350,000 Financial Assistance Program (FAP) loan on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve their water infrastructure.
The Mountain Park Master Conservancy District operates a regional raw water distribution system that provides surface water from Tom Steed Lake and groundwater from nearby wells to the City of Altus and the towns of Frederick and Snyder. To enhance water quality and improve operational flexibility, the District and its partner communities are pursuing system improvements that will allow for more efficient blending of surface and groundwater supplies. The proposed project includes rehabilitating existing wells, constructing new wells and well houses, installing new 4-inch distribution lines, and building a one-million-gallon ground storage tank. Additional improvements include connecting new lines to the existing forebay tank, installing 20-inch transmission lines and all appurtenances necessary to complete the project, which will strengthen the system’s reliability and capacity for years to come.
The cost estimate for the proposed project is $13,282,270, which will be funded through the Financial Assistance Program loan not to exceed $15,350,000.
According to Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, the District’s customers will save an estimated $3,621,500 compared to traditional financing. The loan shall be secured with a lien on the District’s water storage and transmission facilities, as well as the municipal agreements with the cities of Altus, Frederick, and Snyder. In addition, a lien on Altus’s water, sewer, and electric service revenues, including a mortgage on the water system, will also be applied.
Local officials attending the OWRB’s monthly meeting in support of the loan application included District Manager Will Archer. “The Altus Air Force Base was voted the worst military installation in the country due to lack of water in the 2011 drought,” said Archer. “That is where this project began. The Department of Defense, the OWRB, through an ARPA Grant, and the Bureau of Reclamation are all partners in the project. I appreciate you all considering this because it truly is going to be the driving force, not only for water and water quality in southwestern Oklahoma, but what we found in 2011 is it is directly tied to our economic development. This is not just approving a loan for water; it is also pushing forward with economic development for all southwestern Oklahoma. This isn’t a one city deal, it is for Frederick, Snyder and Altus. This is 50,000 people in the southwestern corner of the state that are dependent on water quality. Thank you for considering that. Not only are you helping the district, but you are also helping the Altus Air Force Base, which was once voted the worst military base in the country in bringing water quality and quantity to that area. What a deal that we can vote on something that would help the Department of Defense.”
“Water access and quality are ongoing challenges in southwest Oklahoma, especially in times of drought,” said Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus. “This funding will give Altus, Frederick and Snyder more flexibility to rehab existing wells and dig new wells to improve water quality and make this vital resource more available. It’s a solid step toward strengthening local water infrastructure.”
“We are grateful to State Senator Brent Howard and State Representative Gerrid Kendrix for their support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
Since 1983, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has approved over $8.3 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
