June 1999 # # ! > Section 3 I .\ L ., Foreword I- , / l j\ .’ j_ 2 - Executive Summary ’ ” ’ _ ’ T ’ Introduction s Demographics and Economic Future ! ‘,_ “I I Water Supply and Use Management , /’ 7 Regulation/Institutional Considerations I ’ ’ T, 8 Water Funding Programs \\ 9 Water Planning and Development _I 10 Agricultural Water _ j , /! 11 Drinking Water -1 ,’ 12 ’ Water Quality % 13 Disaster and Emergency Response 14 Fisheries and Water-Related Wildlife : 15 Water-Related Recreation 16 ’ Federal Water Planning and Development 17 Water Conservation / 18 Industrial Water _, 19 Groundwater b / A Acronyms, Abbreviations and Definitions B Bibliography ’ I , / / : \ .’ / \ / I \ I i / : ! / ‘L -, State Water Plan Sevier River Basin Utah Board of Water Resources 1594 West North Temple, Suite 3 10 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6201 June 1999 Section One Sevier River Basin- State Water Plan Foreword The State Water Plan (1990) was prepared to again. Water users repeat this process along the provide a foundation for establishment of state entire length of the Sevier River. The water policy. Within the framework of water groundwater reservoirs are used for storage with policy planning, the state meets its obligation to recharge and discharge continually occurring, plan and implement programs to best serve the thus maintaining the downstream river flows. needs of the people. A complex management and distribution In addition to the State Water Plan, more system based on judicially decreed water rights detailed plans have been prepared for the Bear defines and protects the use and reuse of the river River, Cedar/Beaver, Kanab Creek/Virgin River, as it flows downstream. This system includes Jordan River, Utah Lake and We Basin ber River adjustments for variations in water supply. The hydrologic basins. The Sevier River Plan Sevier River system is sensitive to even minor discusses water-related resources and the changes in weather patterns, Changes in use in problems, needs and alternatives for upstream sections of the river also have an conservation and development measures. Final impact, although sometimes not direct and selection of alternatives will rest with the local precise, on downstream return flows, both in decision makers. timing and volume. This plan is based on information now The distribution regime of the Sevier River available, but it can be re-evaluated and revised has been established, both by facilities to reflect changing circumstances. Successful controlling and managing the river flows, and by planning needs the participation of all concerned stipulation, decree and certification of water individuals and entities and their responses to the rights. Any changes in use must be made issues at hand. In addition, coordination at all according to the laws administering the river. levels of government improves the quality of planning. Common acceptance of resource conservation and development goals enhances the likelihood of reaching these objectives. However, individuals are often able to bring about progress where centralization can stifle innovation. This basin plan is intended to help bring about greater coordination between those involved to assure the needs and demands of the local people are met. The Sevier River Basin is unique as it is Utah’s largest river basin and its entire drainage area is contained within the state. The Sevier Sevier River above Clear Creek River is one of the most utilized rivers in the nation. Only four percent or an average of about 32,900 acre-feet of the total tributary inflow reaches its terminus, Sevier Lake, and then only ACKNOWLEDGMENT on an intermittent basis. The Board of Water Resources gratefully To achieve this level of use, water is diverted acknowledges the dedicated efforts of the State upstream, used, and then it reappears as return Water Plan Steering Committee and flow and is rediverted downstream and used Coordinating Committee in preparing the Sevier 1-l River Basin Plan. This work was spearheaded We extend thanks to those who attended by the River Basin Planning Staff, Division of meetings and provided written and oral Water Resources, with valuable assistance from comments. In endorsing this plan, we reserve the individual coordinating committee members and right to consider local water projects on their their associates representing state agencies with own merits. This plan is an important guide for water-related missions. Their high standards of water development and conservation in the professionalism and dedication to improving Sevier River Basin. Utah’s natural resources were essential. We appreciate the input and assistance of representatives of state and federal cooperating entities, the statewide advisory group and the basin planning advisory group who expressed opinions and provided expertise from a broad spectrum of Utah’s population. Representatives of many local entities and groups provided much needed assistance at the “grass-roots” level. -s363*.- Harold Shirley 1-2 Section 2 Sevier River Basin EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2.1 Foreword 2-l 2.3 Introduction 2-l 2.4 Demographic and Economic Future 2-1 2.5 Water Supply and Use 2-2 2.6 Management 2-2 2.7 Regulation/Institutional Considerations 2-2 2.8 Water Funding Programs 2-3 2.9 Water Planning and Development 2-3 2.10 Agricultural Water 2-4 2.11 Drinking Water 2-4 2.12 Water Quality 2-4 2.13 Disaster and Emergency Response 2-5 2.14 Fisheries and Water-Related Wildlife 2-5 2.15 Water Related Recreation 2-5 2.16 Federal Water Planning and Development 2-5 2.17 Water Conservation/Education 2-6 2.18 Industrial Water 2-6 2.19 Groundwater 2-6 Section Two Sevier River Basin - State Water Plan Executive Summary This section summarizes the Sevier River soils and vegetation. Elevations drop from Basin PZan. This plan contains 19 sections 12,173 feet to about 4,500 feet with precipitation and is modeled after the State Water Plan ranging from more than 35 inches to less than 8 (1990). In addition, this plan contains Section inches. Growing seasons range from 74 days at A; Acronyms, Abbreviations and Definitions, Panguitch to 144 days at Fillmore. The geologic and Section B; Bibliography. parent materials provide a wide variety of soils Sections 1 and 3-19 are summarized under producing vegetation from alpine conifer forest the following headings. Those sections should complexes to desert shrubs and grasses. Private be studied for more detailed information. lands cover about 23 percent of the area, federally administered lands 69 percent and state 2.1 FOREWORD lands 8 percent. Indian tribal lands cover 1,735 The State Water Plan provides a foundation acres. for state water policy. This helps the state meet Although the Fremont Indians irrigated land its obligation to plan and implement programs to for crops about 1,000 years ago along best serve the needs of the people. Gooseberry Creek, Sanpete County settlers in More detailed plans have been prepared for 1849 were the first recent irrigators. Settlements the Bear River, Cedar/Beaver, Kanab soon sprang up all around the basin along with Creek/Virgin River, Jordan River, Utah Lake and developments for culinary and irrigation water. Weber River hydrologic basins. The remaining Construction of reservoirs became necessary to basins will be completed by the year 2000. This manage the water resources beginning in 1860 plan was prepared under the direction of the with construction of Scipio Reservoir. Even Board of Water Resources. today, projects are still being planned and The Sevier River is unique in Utah and is one facilities built to make the best use of the water of the most utilized rivers in the nation. It is and related resources. used and managed under a complex system of water rights determined by court decrees, 2.4 DEMOGRAPHICS AND ECONOMIC stipulations, agreements and certifications. FUTURE Water rights are influenced by even small The Sevier River Basin is essentially an changes in weather patterns. agricultural-based economy. As such, the viability of the area is mostly controlled by the 2.3 INTRODUCTION economics of the agricultural industry. Richfield Water planning has always been a part of is the basin’s largest city as well as its service Utah’s history. Current water planning adds and trade center. more impetus to the process and establishes The 1997 population of the basin was more guidelines that are critical to the concept. than 56,700 people. The area is expected to Preparation of this plan has involved many local, grow to nearly 86,000 people by 2020 and about state and federal entities who are involved in and 150,000 people by 2050, annual growth rates of have expertise regarding water resources. 1.82 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively. Total The Sevier River Basin is located in Central job growth is expected to parallel the population. and South Central Utah. It covers nearly 6.8 Total jobs were nearly 29,200 in 1997 and are million acres (10,575 square miles) which expected to be more than 46,700 by 2020, contain large variations in topography, climate, increasing at an annual rate of 2.1 percent. Jobs 2-l in government, trade and services will grow at the Redmond area and is about 1,025 mg/L near about the same rate while jobs in agriculture will Lynndyl. decline slightly. 2.6 MANAGEMENT 2.5 WATER SUPPLY AND USE Management of the water resources became The total water supply comes from imperative when average diversions exceeded the precipitation except for small transmountain supply. Storage reservoirs were built, beginning diversions and groundwater movement into the with Scipio Reservoir in 1960, in order to save basin. This precipitation produces both surface water during high flows for later use. Court water and groundwater. Most of the decrees allocated water rights in an effort to precipitation is used directly by native vegetation divide up the available supplies.