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Castle Valley council hears report that HB 60 changes and low Lake Powell raise water-appropriation concerns
Summary
At its April 15 meeting, the Castle Valley Town Council heard that changes in HB 60 and extremely low Colorado River volumes could give the state authority cause to deny future water appropriations; the report was presented to the council as part of the Water Advisory Committee update.
At the Castle Valley Town Council’s April 15 meeting, CM O'Brien said he had attended a Mountain Area Water Partnership meeting where a DWRi official, Cash Stalling, explained that changes to HB 60 now allow state reviewers to consider water quality, quantity and availability when deciding whether to approve new water appropriations.
CM O'Brien reported that Stalling characterized this year as “disastrous” for Colorado River volume and warned that low Lake Powell levels threaten Glen Canyon Dam’s dead-pool status, a condition that would sharply constrain water deliveries downstream, according to the report to the council.
The council did not take action on the report; it was provided as part of the Water Agent and Water Advisory Committee briefing. CM O'Brien framed the update as a technical briefing from the MAWP meeting rather than a recommendation for immediate local policy changes.
The council did not set a follow-up vote or direct staff to pursue a regional response during the meeting. The Water Advisory Committee’s draft minutes were provided to the council at the meeting; any next steps or staff assignments were not specified in the discussion.
The council is scheduled to meet again in May, when water-related items could reappear on the agenda if staff or the committee recommend further action.
