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City hearing explains state shift in stormwater policy; Wellsville told runoff should reach Little Bear River
Summary
At a required public hearing, Wellsville’s Water Superintendent said state guidance now prioritizes directing stormwater toward major bodies (detention) rather than indefinite on-site retention, meaning runoff in new developments likely will be routed to the Little Bear River; private canals and irrigation ditches remain off-limits for discharge.
Water Superintendent Brock Nelson outlined at the May 6 public hearing that state stormwater priorities have shifted from on-site retention to routing runoff toward larger water bodies, a change he said is driven by broader efforts to replenish the Great Salt Lake. Nelson told the City Council and residents that detention — slowing the flow and filtering pollutants while allowing water to pass toward receiving waters — is being favored over indefinite retention on new development sites.
Nelson said the change affects Wellsville because runoff that historically was kept in swales or held on private lots may now need to be routed toward the Little Bear River. He described detention ponds as still useful for slowing flow and removing sediment but warned that as regulations evolve some future subdivisions may require piped storm drains rather than swales. Councilman Carl Leatham noted the reversal from prior rules that forbade stormwater from hitting streams; Nelson confirmed that the state is prioritizing conveyance to larger bodies over holding water on-site.
City Engineer Chris Breinholt and staff clarified property-ownership constraints: irrigation ditches are owned by private irrigation companies and cannot legally accept stormwater discharges because of contamination and flooding risks. Similarly, Breinholt stated that canal companies “strictly prohibit” stormwater inflows to their systems. When asked by property owner Sharla Blackham whether runoff from her lot could be directed into a local canal to reach the Little Bear River, Breinholt said that private canal rules prohibit that option.
Nelson said the city’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) requires two annual public involvement sessions; this hearing served as the first, with a second session scheduled for Labor Day to offer additional outreach at the city square festivities. He also said the Utah Stormwater Association provides monthly updates as the Division of Water Quality guidance changes.
The hearing record shows no formal policy change voted at the May 6 meeting; rather, Nelson provided an informational update and the Council and staff discussed implications for future subdivisions, possible piping needs, and coordination with irrigation and canal companies. The Council did not make a regulatory change at the meeting; next steps described were continued monitoring of state guidance and incorporation of requirements into future subdivision standards if needed.
