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DNR warns Utah faces renewed drought stress as it pursues nuclear, minerals and permitting reforms
Summary
Department of Natural Resources told the appropriations subcommittee that 93% of Utah is in drought, Lake Powell is roughly 26% full, and the department is pursuing nuclear lab activity, critical-mineral processing goals and streamlined permitting—backed by restricted-account funding requests.
Joel Ferry, executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, told the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee on Jan. 22 that water remains the department’s top short-term challenge and that active management and conservation are critical as the state moves through drought cycles.
Ferry said recent weather swings—an unusually wet October followed by warm, dry November and December—mean reservoir carryover from 2023–24 has diminished, and that current statewide drought coverage is at 93 percent. "We're either in a drought or we're gonna be coming into a drought," Ferry said, urging conservation.
On the Great Salt Lake, Ferry reported agency work…
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