Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Watershed Restoration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Juan conservation district outlines $1.17 million watershed restoration that drilled 21 wells
Summary
A Utah Dept. of Agriculture-backed conservation project funded with EPA Gold King Mine and grazing-improvement money installed 21 wells and supported outreach to spread livestock grazing and improve habitat, presenters told the San Juan County Commission.
Ryan Jones, a resource coordinator with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, told the San Juan County Commission the San Juan watershed restoration and habitat-improvement project aimed to spread livestock across a broader range and provide water for wildlife.
“The total project came in at $1,170,000,” Jones said, describing $630,000 from EPA Gold King Mine funding routed through the Utah Division of Water Quality, $420,000 from the Grazing Improvement Program and about $120,000 in landowner match (cash or in-kind). He said the project worked with 14 producers and installed 21 water wells for wildlife and livestock, with most wells on private land and some on BLM and trust lands.
Julie Weber, a planner with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, described related outreach: a soil-health field day that drew roughly 35 community participants, a watershed-management outreach meeting with 22 attendees and an annual local work group that identifies resource concerns for NRCS projects. Jones and Weber also listed equipment the conservation district makes available to producers, including a 12-foot no-till drill and a double-drum aerator.
Commissioners asked about partnerships with Utah State University and other agencies; Jones said he coordinates regularly with extension and local conservation partners and that the district had been learning about grant processes and coordination with county road and BLM staff. Commissioners also raised the idea of using equipment for local school or recreation fields and were told the district could help arrange training and use.
The presentation closed with commissioners thanking the conservation district team and encouraging staff to continue seeking projects and coordination across counties and agencies.
