Those opposed to growth in Washington County contend that the 125,000 acre feet (AF) of water that discharges in the Virgin River on average each year is a sufficient water supply to meet future human and wildlife requirements thereby rendering the Lake Powell Pipeline unnecessary. FACT: 125,000 AF is an average which only occurs three out of ten years. Seven Continue Reading »
"It is important to understand that to provide for the water and power needs of the southwest, Lake Powell functions essentially as a bank account of water that is drawn upon in times of drought. Without the bank account of water stored in Lake Powell, water users in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming might have to curtail uses during Continue Reading »
The reservoirs on the Colorado River system are rarely expected to be full. Significant periods of above-average precipitation and runoff, however, could fill the reservoirs to capacity. The rest of the time they are expected to rise and fall as a function of wet or dry years. Storage is designed to withstand long-term droughts and water levels are expected to Continue Reading »
It is estimated that water from the Lake Powell Pipeline Project will be needed in Washington County by 2020. If the Lake Powell Pipeline is not built, the District would have to try to find other sources of water equaling the 69,000 AF shortage by 2020. Draft Study Report #22, written by the Lake Powell Pipeline Project consultant, MWH, looks Continue Reading »
The reservoirs on the Colorado River system are rarely expected to be full. Significant periods of above-average precipitation and runoff, however, could fill the reservoirs to capacity. The rest of the time they are expected to rise and fall as a function of wet or dry years. Storage is designed to withstand long-term droughts and water levels are expected to Continue Reading »
A special winter edition of the District’s Water Line is available. It features articles concerning: the job of a water district to manage water and not growth Lake Powell being a dependable source of water for southern Utah the inability of the Virgin River to meet the water needs of Washington County the drastic cuts that will be required in Continue Reading »
The woundfin fish has rebounded from the brink of extinction. Rick Fridell at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in Washington County said that, “Presently, native fish numbers in the Virgin River are the highest recorded in years and the number of woundfin are particularly significant.” Fridell was particularly pleased that “74% of the woundfin documented this year resulted from Continue Reading »
NEWS RELEASE December 29, 2011 Washington County Water Conservancy District Contact person: Julie Breckenridge―(435) 673-3617 Envision Utah honors local Water Conservancy District with Governor’s Quality Growth Award Governor Herbert presented Washington County Water Conservancy District an award for efforts as a member of the Governor’s Water Conservation Team and the residents of Utah in reducing water use in the state Continue Reading »
By Julie Breckenridge, A wise individual once said, "The only thing more expensive than education is ignorance, and there is nothing more dangerous than sincere ignorance." Four agencies – Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD), city of St. George, Washington County (Red Cliffs Desert Reserve) and the Virgin River Resource Management and Recovery Program – have joined forces and, as Continue Reading »
