WCWD celebrates Prater for years of civic leadership

The West Central Texas Municipal Water District honored Paul Prater for his 28 years of dedication, selflessness, and uncommon service to the water district and the various communities the district serves.

Prater was an intricate member of the Board of Directors of the water district after being appointed as a member in 1992. He has served as a member of the board for the past 28 years.

“I was appointed by the city of Breckenridge to serve on the board of directors of the Water District in 1992. That’s a city-appointed position,” Prater said. “I stayed there for 28 years and never missed a meeting. I was here when they started the construction of the lake in 1962 and when it was filled with water in 1964. Breckenridge started taking water from the lake in 1971 and has taken water from the lake ever since.

Serving as President of the Water District for two terms from 2000-2002 and 2012-2014, Prater also served as the Vice President from 1998-2000. He served the water district in different capacities, as a twoterm secretary of the district from 1994-1998, and as treasurer from 2006-2008.

Accomplishments with Prater at the helm of the District included the district cooperating with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to construct a new boat launch facility. Assisting the Lytle Lake Water Control and Improvement District with the formation, organization, and operation of a new entity. Achievements also include a response to the deregulation of electric utility service in Texas with the Cities Aggregation Power Project, but his service to the community is what is worthwhile to Prater.

“The only thing I’m on now is the board of directors for the Industrial Foundation,” Prater said. “I’ve volunteered for the United Fund, started with little league sports in 1962, chairman of the board for the Fine Arts Center, a member of the planning and zoning commission. A life member of various clubs and it just goes on.”

During a severe drought at the Hubbard Creek Reservoir in 2016, Prater was a key advocate in the district’s purchase of the West Central Brazos Water Distribution System (WC-DWDS). The purchase was the largest in the district history and would potentially provide raw water to a large portion of the upper Brazos River Basin area. The station consists of an intake and pump station east of Breckenridge.

“When Lake Daniel’s went dry, we were taking water from Hubbard Lake,” Prater said. We were getting close to a pump back operation. This is where we would pump water from the dam to the pump station. When Hubbard went dry, we had to rely on Possum Kingdom Lake and I think we will always be able to get water if we need it.”

Hubbard Creek Reservoir was nearly emptied after an 18- year drying that finally halted in 2015. Before the rains, the lake had shrunk to about 25,000 acre-feet of water, a small portion of the approximately 350,000 acrefeet it holds at full capacity.

Prater was instrumental in the district’s effort to research new water supplies for Breckenridge and various West Texas communities. From Seymour Aquifer, brackish groundwater sources, Prater has worked with the Water District to make the com munity a water resource for the future.

“I’ve volunteered for just about everything that has come along,” Prater said. “ I’ve been here long enough to call Breckenridge home. I was born and raised in Young County, in a town called Loving but, I’ve been here in Breckenridge for 60 years. I’ve been active in community events and I love the people here. I’ve helped anyone who has needed help, always have and always will. Everybody has always been appreciative of the things I’ve done and I appreciate that. I’ve been here long enough and this town is my people.”

Prater has since semi-retired in January from the Water District and is planning to publish literature.

“I’ve never been one to step out and say ‘I’ve done this or that’,” Prater said. “I just let my actions speak for themselves.”