Utah committee presses Colorado River Authority on long-term funding and program delivery for demand-management pilot

Representative Scott Chiobbe opened a Natural Resources Interim Committee session that turned to the Colorado River Authority’s demand-management pilot and how it should be funded and managed going forward. The committee reviewed staff recommendations on payment sources, program safeguards and a proposal to consolidate the Authority into the Department of Natural Resources.

The discussion matters because the pilot program uses temporary, voluntary conservation by water-rights holders to reduce depletions and help Utah meet its obligations under the 1922 Colorado River Compact. The Authority received a one-time state appropriation of $5,000,000; about $4,000,000 has already been obligated and roughly $950,000 remains for the 2026 irrigation season. Committee members pressed for options that do not saddle general fund taxpayers with ongoing costs.

Lacey, staff for the committee, summarized the recommendations and said the Authority should “work with public water suppliers to come up with a way to fund this program on an ongoing basis,” and that any long-term funding should avoid placing the entire burden on the state general fund. The draft recommendations also call for measures to make the pilot more robust —…