Provo River Water Users Association secures $4M funding for Deer Creek Dam upgrades

In a recent meeting of the Board of Water Resources in Utah, discussions centered around a significant project involving the Provo River Water Users Association, which operates the Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir. The board convened to address funding for crucial upgrades to the aging facility, originally constructed over 80 years ago.

Brad Jorgensen, the operations and engineering manager, and Jeff Budge, the general manager, presented the case for a $1 million project aimed at retrofitting controls and enabling inspections of the upper outlet pipeline. This upgrade is essential for maintaining the integrity of the water supply system that serves numerous shareholders in the region. Currently, the project is under construction, with a bypass pipeline already bored through the mountain, and completion expected by early 2026.

The funding landscape for this project has been complex. Initially, the association secured a bond of $65 million, but an $11 million gap remained after various funding requests to the federal government and state legislature were denied. The Division of Drinking Water stepped in, providing $7 million, but the association still sought an additional $4 million to finalize the funding package. The board authorized this amount, which will be structured as a separate bond.

However, the path to securing this funding is fraught with challenges. Budge highlighted the legislative requirement to provide a volume of water to the Great Salt Lake as a condition for receiving the $4 million grant. This stipulation has raised concerns about potential legal and environmental hurdles, particularly regarding water rights and the implications of federal regulations. Budge emphasized the association's commitment to fulfilling this requirement but acknowledged the complexities involved, including the risk of triggering environmental studies that could complicate their water rights.

The board members expressed their concerns about the implications of this funding request, questioning whether it might be perceived as circumventing the legislature. Budge clarified that the association's actions were driven by a fiduciary duty to meet financial obligations and that they were committed to working through the necessary agreements to secure the grant.

As the meeting concluded, the board's decision to commit the additional funds remains pivotal for the Provo River Water Users Association, underscoring the delicate balance between infrastructure needs and regulatory compliance in Utah's water management landscape. The outcome of this project could have lasting impacts on water resource management in the region, particularly in light of ongoing challenges related to water availability and environmental stewardship.