Commissioners report state engineer ordered Tropic Reservoir emptied; lawmakers called in to negotiate storage

Commissioners reported a near‑crisis over Tropic Reservoir after the state engineer ordered the reservoir emptied and would not allow the gate to be closed until it was “completely empty.”

A commissioner who testified in Salt Lake said Representative Kevin Stratton intervened during a Natural Resources committee hearing, pressing the two irrigation companies toward a verbal agreement to store water and scheduling an in‑person meeting for July 22. The commissioner said the meeting will aim to negotiate a formal replacement for a long‑standing, informal “1960 napkin” agreement.

The board said the outcome allowed the county delegation to return home early from the Salt Lake hearing. Commissioners described continued concern that the reservoir’s available capacity has fallen compared with historical levels and that the state ordering the drain during drought conditions could worsen local water availability.

Commissioners discussed pursuing administrative and legislative routes: they plan to ask state lawmakers for appropriations if needed, and county staff said they could run the resulting grant or appropriation through the courthouse for administration. The board emphasized that the county would seek to recover any county outlays through a future appropriation or reimbursement mechanism.

The transcript shows commissioners repeatedly framed the issue as both immediate (this year’s cutbacks in irrigation) and long‑term (a need for engineered storage and an updated legal agreement). The commission instructed staff to continue helping stakeholders, coordinate the July 22 meeting locally, and prepare for potential appropriation requests to the governor and legislature.