Division outlines timeline to update Utah State Water Plan, aims for public scoping this summer

Stephanie McGinnis, the Division’s state water plan manager, briefed the board on the division’s schedule and proposed outline for the next Utah State Water Plan. She said changes to statute (House Bill 280) require the plan to be updated no less often than every 10 years, though the division aims to update more frequently (roughly every five years).

McGinnis presented a proposed nine‑chapter outline covering a statewide water budget and constraints, drivers of change (including climate and population growth), roles and responsibilities of agencies, and thematic chapters on vibrant communities, agriculture, and natural systems. She said the division will work closely with required participants under statute — state agencies, divisions within the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality — and with local Water Conservancy Districts and Watershed Councils for basin‑level input.

Key milestones McGinnis identified: basin watershed‑council engagements and public scoping meetings this summer, a draft for internal agency review by next summer, and a public draft with final publication targeted for December 2026. She emphasized collaboration with local entities to identify basin‑level challenges and successes and said the division plans modeling and scenario analysis for future supply and demand under different climate and growth assumptions. Board members asked about local outreach and she said watershed councils will help identify venues and spread notice for scoping meetings.