$15M plan would add more Stockton Lake water to CU's supply

A multimillion-plan approved by City Utilities of Springfield's governing board would add more water to the utility's supply from Stockton Lake.

The Board of Public Utilities, which governs CU, on Nov. 30 approved a memorandum of understanding between CU and the Southwest Missouri Joint Water Utility Commission, according to a news release.

The commission is seeking approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 94,750 acre-feet of water storage space in Stockton Lake to be reallocated for drinking water supply. CU's portion would be 29,154 acre-feet. One acre-foot is equal to 325,851 gallons.

Utility officials say CU's portion of the planned allocation is estimated to cost $15 million.

"If (Southwest Missouri Joint Water Utility Commission) is successful in obtaining a contract with the Corps, this would be CU’s third allocation of water from Stockton Lake," officials said in the release.

CU currently has 50,000 acre-feet available through Stockton Lake to supplement its existing water supply sources. The new allotment would bring the total to 79,154 acre-feet.

Officials said in the release that the additional allocation would "support the water supply of City Utilities during drought conditions and secure the water supply for future generations."

A 30-mile pipeline to Fellows Lake from Stockton Lake was built in the 1990s to supply water to Springfield in the event of drought situations. CU secured a 25,000 acre-feet allocation at a cost of $4.6 million in 1993, with an additional allocation purchased for $7.8 million in 2013, according to the release.