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Emery County declares emergency drought, citing multi‑year water shortfall
Summary
The Emery County Commission voted May 5 to approve an emergency drought declaration under Utah Code 17-7-78.307, citing tree‑ring analyses and historic low streamflows to enable access to assistance and funding.
The Emery County Commission voted unanimously May 5 to adopt an emergency drought declaration for the county under Utah Code 17‑7‑78.307 after commissioners cited prolonged low streamflows and regional dry conditions.
The chair said tree‑ring and long-term streamflow records indicate the county is in a multi‑decadal dry period and warned the drought will significantly affect agriculture and other water‑dependent uses. "We've prepared a declaration for declaring a drought in Emery County, and that may help us as we receive assistance and funding," the chair said, explaining that the declaration would help the county access state and federal assistance.
A commissioner who had participated in a state drought call reported poor outlooks for the summer, underscoring the rationale for the emergency declaration. The commission moved and approved the declaration by voice/roll call vote. The declaration is intended to enable the county to request and receive drought assistance and to coordinate resources with state agencies.
Next steps: adoption of the declaration enables county staff to pursue funding and assistance and to coordinate with state drought response authorities; commissioners did not adopt additional mandatory water‑use restrictions at the meeting.
