Council hears water-advisory review, schedules public presentation of water-budget study

Castle Valley — Council members said Jan. 21 that a presentation by a regional water-rights official left local questions about groundwater quality unresolved and agreed to hold a public water budget presentation on Feb. 24.

At the meeting, members summarized remarks by Cash Stallings of the Utah Division of Water Rights, quoting him as saying, "it's not our study. It's UGS's study," and noting his comment that well levels and water quality "haven't changed a great deal" over time. Several council members and participants said the study — prepared by UGS (Utah Geological Survey) — did not directly answer local concerns about whether declining outflow from the valley could concentrate salts in the aquifer and harm water quality.

Why it matters: Council members said water quality and quantity in Castle Valley are linked, and they want more targeted answers before drawing policy conclusions. The town scheduled a public presentation of the water budget study for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 so members and residents can review the full findings and the recorded mock meeting where Stallings spoke.

Council discussion and next steps: Speakers at the Jan. 21 meeting urged staff to obtain the recording of the mock meeting to confirm Stallings' remarks and to circulate committee minutes from the Water Advisory Committee. Janae Wallace, who participated online, told the council, "the issue in Castle Valley is water quality," a point raised to emphasize that quantity findings alone may not resolve local management questions.

The council asked staff to include the Water Advisory Committee minutes in the packet for the Feb. 24 presentation and to identify specific monitoring or follow-up questions the town wants UGS or the Division of Water Rights to address.