Residents urge City to explain pause on leasing irrigation shares to support Great Salt Lake

Dozens of residents at the South Jordan City Council's Feb. 17 meeting pressed city leaders for clearer answers after staff imposed a temporary pause on leasing "unused" secondary irrigation water shares while exploring whether to lease some supplies to the Great Salt Lake Commission.

The issue surfaced in the council's public-comment period after Assistant City Manager Jason Rasmussen told attendees the city had placed leasing "on a pause" while the Great Salt Lake Commission reviews a multi-city proposal to send shares to the lake for a one-to-five year period. "There's no obligations or contracts for the city to move that water along to the Great Salt Lake right now," Rasmussen said, adding staff would notify past lessees if the Commission requested the shares and would return to the council if any longer-term arrangement was proposed.

The pause prompted a string of personal accounts and questions at the microphone. "I've leased shares with the city for over 20 years," said Troy Tepels, who said he had not received notice and pressed the council for baseline data: how many shares the city holds, how many are leased, and what revenue the city receives from those leases. Others described direct financial impacts and sunk investments if they must convert irrigation systems to culinary water. "If I have to go to a different system, I'm probably looking at several thousand dollars," said Bruce Moffett, a retiree who leases shares.

Several commenters who identified themselves as agricultural or irrigation users argued the city's description of shares as "unused" was inaccurate. "We all use it," said Jacob Jorgensen, who identified himself as working for Salt Lake City Public Utilities and said many residents depend on shares for gardens, animals and orchards. Concerned homeowners asked for an economic impact analysis and public workshops before any reallocation. "Participation in water leasing for environmental purposes should be voluntary, transparent, and structured," said a resident who described himself as a trained attorney, asking the council what guarantees it could offer that residents would not bear disproportionate costs.

Some residents urged the council to sell surplus shares rather than reassign them. "If the city sees it as this is not a resource that you want to hold on to, let it go to us," Jorgensen said. Others asked why the city had not used its usual annual mailing to lessees; John Moran said the lack of notification made the change feel abrupt.

Mayor Dawn Ramsey said council members and staff had taken "copious notes" and promised follow-up conversations. Rasmussen said the Great Salt Lake Commission has asked several southwest Salt Lake County cities to submit proposals and that the Commission will notify cities in spring; at that point, the city would return to the council and to affected residents as appropriate. "We will let all of you know," Rasmussen said.

Next steps were not set at the meeting. Residents requested clearer communication, details on the number and status of the city's water shares, a resident-access option (sale or lease), and an economic impact analysis before any long-term reallocation is finalized.