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Who are the developers of the project? ^Up There are no "developers." The lake is envisioned to be owned, developed and controlled by a Port Authority. What is a Port Authority? ^Up A Port Authority is a quasi-public entity that is created by state statute and would be controlled by the cities and counties participating in the project. The legal abilities of the port authority are also defined by state statute. Why a Port Authority? ^Up A Port Authority can issue general obligation bonds, can exercise the right of eminent domain if necessary, and can be the long-term manager of the project.
The lake is being proposed for many good reasons including an additional water supply, economic development, additional recreational opportunities and a source for local power. Is the project a "done deal?" ^Up No. The only action taken so far is making the public aware of this idea and the request for a feasibility study. This project only exists as an idea. Why is the feasibility study being requested? ^Up The study is being requested to determine the merits of the project (for both economic development and as a water/power supply source) and to identify and assess the issues that are relative to a project of this type and complexity. Who will be the water/power users? ^Up The water users have not been specifically identified but the feasibility study will determine that. How much land will be necessary for this project? ^Up Currently, the lake is proposed to be approximately 8,000 surface acres; however, the total land required to construct the proposed project is not known at this time.
No. There would not be enough water within the drainage basin to create or maintain a lake capable of flooding Dexter. Is there a proposed map of the project? ^Up Yes and No. We have developed a graphic that shows the approximate size and location of the lake. However, a map of the lake showing all of the potential benefits and impacts is not available nor will it be until such time as actual planning and design of the lake commences. Will highway US 166 have to be relocated? ^Up Yes. It is presently anticipated that a small section of highway 166 would have to be rerouted over the proposed dam. How would the project affect the Dexter school system? ^Up The extent of the impact is unknown at present but due to imminent economic growth, the impact is believed to be positive.
The impact will be positive in that the tax base for the school district will increase and accordingly, so will the revenue stream. What is the economic benefit? ^Up There will be thousands of construction jobs not only for the construction of the lake, but also for the surrounding development. Payroll dollars will be spent on goods and services in the local and surrounding areas. Sales tax revenues will increase. Over the life of the project, property valuations (both residential and commercial) will increase leading to increased property tax revenue for the county. The overall economic impact to Cowley County as well as the surrounding communities and counties will be addressed in the feasibility study. Why hasn't development occurred on other lakes such as Kaw Lake? ^Up Other nearby lakes such as Kaw, Cheney and El Dorado are controlled by either the Corps of Engineers or Bureau of Reclamation and were constructed for flood control or water supply. Property development as seen on Grand Lake is not allowed.
There are a number of issues that have already been identified (riparian habitat, animal species, water quality, etc.). Obviously, a number of state and federal agencies will be involved in the planning of this project. Will Cowley County lose property tax revenue? ^Up Yes and no. By our estimates, the county will lose approximately $28,000 tax dollars for the land that is taken for the lake project; however, the investment in commercial and residential development around the lake will generate an estimated $3.8 million in property tax revenue. How is this possible? Currently the land is assessed as agricultural property (the lowest assessed valuation of type of property). Once developed, it will be assessed at residential and commercial valuations. If you have any questions that are unanswered here or elsewhere on the site, please feel free to send us your questions and we try to answer them in this FAQ location. Contact Us |