The latest study regarding the Bear River Development (BRD) project has been released by the Utah Division of Water Resources and includes 13 potential reservoir combinations and pipeline alignments, as well as updated costs. At full development, the project will deliver 220,000 acre-feet of water per year to Utahns in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Salt Lake and Weber counties. (more…)
On Oct. 28, the U.S. Department of the Interior notified the Utah Board of Water Resources (board) that it has assigned the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to lead the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance for the Lake Powell Pipeline (LPP) project.
In September 2019, the board announced it eliminated two reservoirs proposed to generate hydropower at times of peak demand. As a result, the licensing requirements of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission no longer applied to the project and the board withdrew the FERC license application. The board subsequently requested that the Department of the Interior appoint Reclamation as the lead federal agency for purposes of completing the NEPA review.
“The division looks forward to working with Reclamation on updating the timeline and cost estimate for the project and completing the Environmental Impact Statement,” said Eric Millis, director of the Utah Division of Water Resources.
The LPP is an approximately 140-mile pipeline that will diversify and enhance water resources for Utah’s fastest growing and driest region by using a small portion of the state’s available Colorado River water right. Visit LPPUtah.org for more information.
The Utah Board of Water Resources (UBWR) is simplifying the Lake Powell Pipeline (LPP) project by eliminating two reservoirs proposed to generate hydropower at times of peak demand. The modifications will reduce project costs more than $100 million, align with regulatory changes and reduce environmental impacts. LPP will still be able to produce hydropower using inline facilities. (more…)
Water levels in Utah’s rivers and reservoirs look plentiful now but the scene last fall told a different story when Gov. Gary R. Herbert issued an Executive Order declaring a state of emergency due to drought. (more…)
BOULDER CITY, NEV. – Water officials from all seven Colorado River Basin states joined representatives from the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation May 20 to sign drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins. These plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the Colorado River. (more…)
Falling storage levels at both lakes Powell and Mead have highlighted the potential effects of climate change on the Colorado River, causing some to question its future viability as a reliable water supply source for the state of Utah.
UPDATED
June 18, 2020 – The Utah Division of Water Resources (DWRe) and UTA have terminated their partnership to jointly acquire property in Box Elder County adjacent to Union Pacific’s existing rail corridor. The partnership was established in December 2018 and was initially beneficial because the division lacked property acquisition experience. The partnership eventually became cumbersome and both parties are moving forward independently.
DWRe is currently looking to acquire property from willing sellers to preserve a corridor for future pipeline alignment options. Construction is not anticipated for about 30 years and is subject to an environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
The Division and UTA will continue to partner on a surveying contract, which is included in the original scope of work. A contracted right-of-way agent is working on behalf of DWRe.
December 4, 2018 – Utah Division of Water Resources (DWRe) and UTA are partnering to jointly acquire property in Box Elder County adjacent to Union Pacific’s existing rail corridor. (more…)