Senate approves emergency loan to rebuild Quail Creek Dam after collapse

The Utah Senate on the floor amended and passed Senate Bill 113 to provide emergency funding for the rebuild of Quail Creek Dam in Washington County.

Senators voted to limit the measure to Quail Creek and appropriate $12.5 million from the general fund to the Division of Water Resources, which will deposit the money into the Water Resources Conservation and Development Fund for a loan to the Washington County Water Conservancy District. Ronald Thompson, manager of the Conservancy District, told the Committee of the Whole the district has a $12 million loan approved at 0% interest and a 20‑year amortization schedule.

Why it matters: Thompson said an RCC (roller‑compacted concrete) rebuild requires continuous pours at moderate ambient temperatures. Delaying work into the summer could force the use of costly cooling measures and ‘‘substantially’’ increase costs; completing work in the spring also makes available runoff storage. Thompson described a construction schedule that aims to have the dam substantially complete by mid‑April so the district can capture spring runoff and reduce future costs.

The bill’s sponsor and floor proponents emphasized the urgency and the savings from acting during the construction season. Senators questioned terms: members asked whether the loan is a grant (it is a loan), where repayments flow (to the C&D fund/water resources), and what security was pledged (existing pledged water‑project revenues and bonds). Thompson said earlier loans and a $3 million settlement were also repaid on a schedule; the district expects the new loan to be repaid by its revenue stream and pledged revenues.

Opponents and cautious members sought to narrow the bill. Senator McAllister moved to restrict SB113 to the Quail Creek appropriation (reducing the governor’s broader recommendation) and leave other water projects for supplemental consideration; the amendment passed. Under suspension rules, the Senate then took final passage.

Vote and next step: The amended SB113 passed on final passage with recorded support from a majority of senators; it was referred to the House for further action.

Context and numbers: Thompson said the district’s previous work raised Quail Creek’s original cost to about $22 million; adding the current $12 million would bring total project costs near $34 million. He said the loan approved by water resources had 0% interest and a 20‑year repayment plan. The amended appropriation in SB113 was $12.5 million for Quail Creek; the sponsor noted $2.5 million each for wastewater and drinking water projects in the governor’s original recommendation were left to later consideration.

What to watch: The House will consider SB113 next; if enacted and executed, the district will contract and proceed on the RCC schedule that proponents say is essential to control construction costs and capture runoff.