ST. GEORGE — It’s been 20 years since the Sand Hollow Reservoir was built. And as a way to celebrate that anniversary, county water officials are inviting the public to share their favorite photos of the reservoir to social media with the hashtag #Sandhollow20.
“The (Washington County Water Conservancy District) would like to invite residents of the county and users of the reservoir to participate in the social media campaign,” said Brie Thompson, water district associate general manager over field operations.
Sand Hollow Reservoir was completed in March 2002 and became a 20,000-acre-sized state park the following year. Similar to Quail Creek, Sand Hollow has been credited with helping support the growth and economy of the area.
“We’d like to remind residents of the importance of Sand Hollow Reservoir,” Thompson said. “A lot of people love to recreate on the reservoir, but its primary purpose is as a drinking water storage reservoir. It is a vital (resource) to provide water supply to residents and the many visitors to Washington County.”
Sand Hollow is credited with helping support the county population, which has grown 80% over the last two decades. In addition to providing drinking water, it has also pumped millions of dollars into the county and state economies.
The reservoir brought in $70 million to Washington County in 2021, according to the water district. The state park also played host to 1.5 million visitors during that time.
“Most years, it’s the top state park in Utah as far as visitation,” Thompson said.
The reservoir has also gained popularity among participants of annual Ironman triathlon competitions as it serves the swimming portion of the race.
Capable of storing up to 17 billion gallons of surface water and an additional 98 billion gallons in the sandstone aquifer beneath it, Sand Hollow is the largest water storage facility in the county. It is also considered a key part of the water district’s storage infrastructure as it allows county residents to still have water during years of drought.
“Sand Hollow Reservoir is critical to Washington County’s water security,” Zach Renstrom, district general manager, said in a statement. “We literally survive off the reservoir’s storage during dry years.”
Sand Hollow gets its water from a diversion on the Virgin River. The Virgin River basin itself serves as the county’s sole source of water.
“Sand Hollow Reservoir is an asset in both its vital role in Washington County’s water supply and for the joy it brings visitors,” said Jeff Rasmussen, Utah State Parks director. “Help us celebrate the reservoir’s anniversary by sharing your favorite Sand Hollow memories on social media and tagging them #SandHollow20.”
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