Engineer recommends $1.1 million rebuild of Prater Canyon Spring transmission line

Ryan Welling, engineer with Forsgren Engineering, told the Star Valley Ranch Town Council at a July 25 special work session that the town's water system needs both operational and capital upgrades, including an estimated $1.1 million rebuild of the Prater Canyon Spring transmission line.

Welling presented an update to the water master plan and said the transmission line is in poor condition and not adequately buried. He recommended the town redevelop that line to secure the spring as a reliable supply, and offered a rough cost estimate of about $1.1 million for that work. Welling also urged the council to develop a formal water-loss tracking and leak-detection program to find and repair losses more quickly.

In addition to programmatic changes, Welling recommended the town maintain backups for vital system components such as pumps and pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) so the system can continue to operate if equipment fails. The engineer's presentation focused on practical steps to reduce service interruptions and preserve supply while planning longer-term capital investments.

Town Clerk Gray was asked to investigate replacement costs for flow meters at the water sources and overflows; the meeting record notes an assignment to report back but does not specify a budget or timeline for that work. No funding decisions were made during the session.

Separately, the council unanimously voted to amend the meeting agenda to add an executive session on personnel, later entered and then left the executive session by unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned after returning to open session.

The council did not take formal action to approve or authorize the $1.1 million project during the special session; next steps appear to be cost investigations and follow-up reporting to the council before any funding or bid decisions.