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Board of Water Resources commits funding to local canal, meter and pipeline projects; withdraws Hiram City ARPA request
Summary
The Utah Board of Water Resources on Jan. 30 approved funding commitments for multiple local water infrastructure projects — including canal enclosure, pipeline relocation and meter installations — and voted to withdraw an ARPA-funded Hiram City project after the applicant elected not to proceed.
The Utah Board of Water Resources voted unanimously Jan. 30 to commit state loan and grant funds for several local water infrastructure projects and to withdraw one previously authorized ARPA-funded project after the applicant declined to proceed.
Board members approved staff recommendations to commit funding for projects in Davis, Weber and Draper water systems and to provide the final round of loan assistance for installation of secondary meters by the Davis & Weber Counties Canal Company. The board also accepted a staff recommendation to withdraw a Hiram City project and return ARPA grant funds to the program.
The decisions authorize multi-year purchase agreements and loans intended to support pipe replacement, canal enclosure and meter installation. Staff repeatedly told the board that applicants had met legal and program requirements before commitments were finalized. The board took each action by roll-call vote.
Key approvals included a commitment to relocate about 8,200 feet of 8- to 12-inch secondary irrigation pipeline in Clinton (Davis County) in conjunction with a UDOT road project; a box-culvert enclosure and alignment work tied to an interchange project near Hill Air Force Base in Sunset (Davis County); a third round of funding to finish installing secondary meters for the Davis & Weber Counties Canal Company; and a replacement of about 2,610 feet of 10-inch cast-iron culinary main with 12-inch PVC and associated hydrants and connections for Draper Irrigation Company. In every case staff described expected benefits including improved maintenance access, reduced leakage, improved flow and compliance with state metering requirements.
The Hiram City item (RM008) had been part of a prior ARPA grant conversion to line and pipe an open canal; the applicant notified staff it would not complete the project and asked that the ARPA funds be returned. Staff noted returned ARPA funds are still subject to federal time limits and can be recontracted under the board’s ARPA procedures; board staff said they had identified other applicants that could use the funds.
Votes at a glance: - RE482 (Clinton, Davis County) — Motion: commit 85% of project cost up to $2,825,000; purchase at 3.17% interest over 15 years with annual payments of about $239,600. Moved by Board Member Dana Van Horn; seconded by Board Member Brian Steed. Roll-call: Juliette Tenert (Aye), William Merkley (Aye), Brian Steed (Aye), Dana Van Horn (Aye), Spencer Jones (Aye). Outcome: approved. - RE483 (Sunset, Davis County; box culvert related to Hill AFB/UDOT work) — Motion: commit 42.5% of project cost up to $3,200,000; purchase at 1.95% interest over 30 years with annual payments of about $141,900. Moved by Board Member Dana Van Horn; seconded by Board Member William Merkley. Roll-call: Juliette Tenert (Aye), William Merkley (Aye), Brian Steed (Aye), Dana Van Horn (Aye), Spencer Jones (Aye). Outcome: approved. - Davis & Weber Counties Canal Company (meter program final round) — Motion: commit 29.75% of project cost up to $1,190,000; purchase at 1% interest over 15 years with annual payments of about $85,900. Moved by Board Member Dana Van Horn; seconded by Board Member Brian Steed. Roll-call: Juliette Tenert (Aye), William Merkley (Aye), Brian Steed (Aye), Dana Van Horn (Aye), Spencer Jones (Aye). Outcome: approved. - RE491 (Draper Irrigation Company) — Motion: commit 85% of the project cost up to $962,000; purchase at 0% interest over 25 years with annual payments of about $38,500. Moved by Board Member Juliette Tenert; seconded by Board Member William Merkley. Roll-call: Juliette Tenert (Aye), William Merkley (Aye), Brian Steed (Aye), Dana Van Horn (Aye), Spencer Jones (Aye). Outcome: approved. - RM008 (Hiram City withdrawal) — Motion: withdraw the project from further consideration and return funds. Moved by Board Member Spencer Jones; seconded by Board Member Brian Steed. Roll-call: Juliette Tenert (Aye), William Merkley (Aye), Brian Steed (Aye), Dana Van Horn (Aye), Spencer Jones (Aye). Outcome: approved; ARPA funds to be reallocated per program rules and contract timing.
Board members and staff stressed that these commitments follow previously authorized amounts or earlier authorizations and that applicants had satisfied statutory and program requirements. Staff noted interest-rate differences reflect program rules and loan terms. The board approved each motion by formal roll call; voting records for each motion match the transcript roll calls.
Ending: Board staff said returned ARPA money can be recontracted and must be spent by program deadlines (end of 2026 under the program’s timeline). Staff noted other applicants had expressed interest in additional grant funding, and the division will follow federal and state contracting deadlines when reallocating returned funds.
