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State water engineer warns of low snowpack and stalled Colorado River talks
Summary
Utah Division of Water Rights regional engineer Cash Stallings told the council local snowpack is below average and that Colorado River negotiations remain unresolved; he said federal officials are preparing an EIS and warned "it's not going well" for interstate talks.
Cash Stallings, regional engineer for the Utah Division of Water Rights, told the Emery County Public Lands Council the local and regional water picture is weak heading into the irrigation season.
"Price is at 61 percent, San Rafael's at 57, the Muddy's at 61, Desolation Canyon's at 75%," Stallings said, summarizing basin-level snowpack numbers and warning that mid- and low-elevation storms have been scarce. He added reservoirs currently have stored project water, but cautioned that consecutive dry winters could create shortages.
On the Colorado River negotiations, Stallings said the seven-basin talks have not produced a new agreement and that federal authorities are preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) that could guide interim operations. "It's not going well," he told the council, and he described a federal timeline that could produce a clearer federal plan by late summer.
Stallings urged local officials to watch water legislation this session: the division anticipates multiple water bills and will provide updates after the legislature acts. He said more substantive updates on Colorado River negotiations and related federal actions will be available when the federal EIS alternatives are released.
The council heard the update and discussed potential outreach to state and federal representatives depending on outcomes of legislative bills and the EIS process.
