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Iron County declares drought emergency, asks governor and federal agencies for aid
Summary
The Iron County Commission on April 27 unanimously approved Resolution 2026-2 declaring a drought emergency and formally requested state and federal technical assistance, financial programs and coordination to help farms, ranches, tourism and wildfire response.
The Iron County Commission adopted Resolution 2026-2 on April 27, 2026, declaring a county drought emergency and asking the governor and federal agencies for technical assistance and financial support to respond to prolonged, severe drought conditions.
County Clerk Jon Whittaker explained the declaration asks the U.S. Department of the Interior (including the Bureau of Reclamation) to provide technical staff assistance for water-development grants, and requests cooperation from the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and the Farm Service Agency to assist grazing permit holders, farmers and ranchers. The resolution also asks Governor Spencer J. Cox to marshal state resources and to designate the Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security as the lead for drought response coordination.
The declaration lists specific requests: facilitation of well-application processing, assistance with water-development projects, deployment of Department of Agriculture and Department of Economic Development staff to help with grants and low-interest loans, coordination of fire resources through the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, and preference for surplus state and federal property to support local drought response needs. It also urges residents and visitors to take extra precautions to prevent fires, bans fireworks on private lands during the emergency, and suggests limiting outside watering.
Commissioner Michael Bleak moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Kenneth Robinson seconded. The motion passed with Bleak and Robinson voting Aye; Commissioner Paul Cozzens was recorded Absent.
The resolution is intended to open pathways to federal and state assistance for agricultural producers, the tourism industry and local governments coping with prolonged dryness and elevated wildfire risk. The county clerk attested the resolution for the official record.
