OPINION — Water is a constant issue in Washington County and the state of Utah. Heavy rains, like what we are currently experiencing, are a much-needed relief and aid in replenishing our water supply. But I must ask, why are more measures not in place to harvest additional water from the heavy rainfalls?
With record rains pummeling the area, and heavy snowpacks still existing, our reservoirs are filling up and water is being lost. Gunlock and Baker are both overflowing, and that water is running down the Santa Clara River before converging at the Virgin River, increasing the risk of flooding. Ash Creek Reservoir has more water in it than it has for years and has led to road closures.
Over the last few years, cities and the Washington County Water Conservancy District have brought up plans to build new reservoirs throughout the county – in Ivins, Toquerville and Warner Valley. There are talks of building a pipeline from Lake Powell, already at historic lows, to bring water to our area because Utah is allocated the water rights from the original pact. But if Lake Powell doesn’t have the water capacity to distribute additional water, then we can’t be reliant on the success or efficiency of that plan.
More can be done to harvest and retain the water from heavy rainstorms we are now seeing. If Washington County had new retention areas, temporary reservoirs of sorts, the spillover water could be gathered and not lost. If the Ivins, Toquerville and Warner Valley reservoirs were ready, water could have been diverted and collected to those areas.
There’s been enough talk over the last few years, but nothing has produced tangible results. It’s time for our elected leaders and appointed water management officials to actually do something that can benefit the residents of Washington County in terms of our water supply instead of just talking.
This year’s runoff has been lost, but something can be done to prepare the county for the next big rainfall or snowpack melt. But the questions remain – are our elected leaders and water management officials going to do anything instead of just talking? And will we be fortunate to get another heavy precipitation event in the future?
Submitted by JEFFREY McDONALD, Ph.D., Ivins, Utah.
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