Williams County commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 2 to approve a conditional use permit allowing construction of a lined freshwater holding pond to store water for oil-well production.
Michelle, a county planning and zoning staff member, told the board the proposal (LU-65-25) is “to construct a freshwater pond on the subject property,” located in the southeast of Section 17, Township 159 North, Range 100 West in Blue Ridge Township. The parcel totals about 155 acres; the pond will occupy a portion of the quarter section and the applicant reported the pond will hold about 49.9 acre-feet and measure roughly 500 by 235 feet with a maximum slope of 3-to-1.
The staff presentation said the pond will be lined with plastic, fully fenced and include seeded berms for erosion control. “Purpose of this pond is for storage of fresh water to be utilized in oil well production in the area,” Michelle said. The water source will be the Blue Ridge Industrial Water Well and access will be from U.S. Highway 85. Planning and Zoning recommended approval at its August hearing.
Commissioners moved and seconded approval following staff comments and completed a roll-call vote. The board recorded unanimous affirmative votes and the chair declared the motion carried.
The permit allows the operator to supply water to a nearby production pad using a riser connected to the pond and diesel-powered pumps and mobile water-transfer equipment. The county noted recordation or other conditions will follow any required permits and reviews.
No township response was recorded in the staff report; planning staff said they had not yet heard back from Blue Ridge Township as of the meeting.
The county did not cite any state statute or ordinance in the meeting discussion. Future steps noted in the staff presentation include final permitting, fencing and erosion-control measures before or during construction.