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Emery officials form watershed task force, schedule meeting with state agencies to address drought
Summary
Emery leaders described an emergency planning effort and scheduled a meeting next week with state and agency officials to explore wells, mountain springs, dam repairs and a new reservoir as short- and long-term responses to the town’s drought and reduced well levels.
Emery’s town leaders spent the bulk of their meeting focused on a worsening local water shortage and plans to seek outside help, form a task force and pursue grants and projects aimed at keeping water flowing.
The council’s chair said the town has convened a planning task force to evaluate four priority options: repairing and developing existing wells, developing springs in nearby high country, repairing high-country dams including Spanish and Tennyson, and pursuing a longer-term reservoir project at Morris Bench (separate from the older Muddy site). “That is right now to get help to proceed forward so that we have drinking water next year,” the chair said, urging residents to help and sign up for volunteer support.
Speaker 6 (Melissa), who also updated the council, said a town meeting with agency officials and representatives the chair described as being coordinated through the governor’s office is scheduled next week in Emery at the senior citizen center. The council plans to hold a separate public meeting after the agencies report back so residents can review recommendations and volunteer opportunities.
Council members said the town is already hearing from people who offer help and from agencies that have grant programs. The chair said some well-development grants or other funding “in the millions” were discussed at planning meetings and the purpose of the upcoming work session is to identify which grants and processes the town should pursue.
Technical details discussed at the meeting included recent observations about well depths and interim water handling. The chair said two wells now are much deeper than normal — previously near 80 feet but currently “about 250” and “about 350” feet on two separate wells — and that crews are addressing collapsed pipe and running wells daily while awaiting lab test results on water quality. The council discussed short-term options (directing clean well water into the system if test results allow) and contingency approaches (settling ponds or tanks if the water requires treatment).
Task-force planning also touched on logistics and community outreach: the council said it will create a dedicated website and use flyers to publicize the agency meeting and any subsequent public forums. Members repeatedly emphasized the need for volunteers with equipment and skills — tractors, chainsaws, ladder access and basic first aid — and the CERT outreach led by Melissa aims to educate residents about 72-hour readiness and neighbor checks.
Next steps: the council expects the agency work session next week and a public meeting afterward to share findings, possible grant targets and volunteer sign-ups. The council also said it will report back at the next regular meeting and move forward on grant applications and any short-term infrastructure repairs recommended by visiting officials.
Sources: Remarks by the council chair (speaker 1) and Melissa (speaker 6) during the Emery Town Council meeting.
