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Council hears conservation-stage plan as region faces drought and early runoff
Summary
Staff described snowpack at about 53% of normal and runoff roughly six weeks early; proposed Stage Two and Stage Three conservation rates would reduce base allocations while sharply raising high-use rates, and Stage Three could ban outdoor use if necessary.
City staff told the Council they are considering multi-stage conservation rates to respond to drought conditions and early runoff.
Water Superintendent Ivan Merrell said the basin’s snowpack is about 53% of normal and that runoff is occurring roughly six weeks earlier than average, increasing the likelihood that supply will not meet summer demand. He noted Vernal receives a fixed share of Ashley Creek flows and that Red Fleet Reservoir (1,800 acre-feet allocated to the city) is a costly but reliable supplement; Despain said Red Fleet allocations do not carry over and must be used within the year.
Staff proposed Stage Two (anticipated shortage) and Stage Three (critical shortage) conservation rate options that lower the base for essential indoor use but impose much higher marginal charges for nonessential, high-volume consumption to discourage outdoor and discretionary uses. Despain said Stage Three could include prohibitions on outdoor irrigation to preserve water for indoor and emergency needs.
Merrell said the conservation rates are designed to curtail demand rather than generate revenue and that an appeal process would allow review for cases such as leaks or other extraordinary circumstances. The Mayor also read a regional advisory letter into the record warning that the Uintah Basin is experiencing drought, low stream flows, and reservoir declines and recommending reduced diversions and conservation.
