Gov. Cox Issues Executive Order to Increase Utah’s Drought Resiliency

Image show a spinkler watering a green lawn with a blue bar with white text saying Gov. Cox issues executive order to increase drought resiliency.
Image show a spinkler watering a green lawn with a blue bar with white text saying Gov. Cox issues executive order to increase drought resiliency.

Gov. Cox Issues Executive Order to Increase Utah’s Drought Resiliency

Published 05-10-23

SALT LAKE CITY (May 10, 2023) – Gov. Spencer Cox has issued an executive order requiring water conservation at state facilities with the goal of increasing Utah’s drought resiliency. 

Under Executive Order 2023-07, each state agency will assess its compliance with water conservation requirements for state facilities, coordinate with the Division of Facilities Construction and Management and the Division of Water Resources to implement and follow those requirements, and follow the Division of Water Resources’ weekly watering guide.

“While we are thankful for the record breaking snowpack we received this season, we have to keep up the good work of conserving this precious natural resource,” said Gov. Cox. “Maintaining and expanding existing water-saving measures will only increase Utah’s ability to grow sustainably.”

Utah is one of the driest states in the nation. Some portions of the state have experienced drought conditions nearly every year since 2000. 

Fortunately, Utahns have conserved billions of gallons of water over the past two years. The valiant efforts of individual Utahns across the state – combined with infrastructure and efficiency measures by government – are helping to keep more water in our reservoirs than the state would have been able to with typical use and during population growth. 

Executive Order 2023-07 is effective immediately and will remain in effect until it’s no longer needed. 

###

Media Contacts

Emma Williams
PIO, Office of Gov. Spencer J. Cox
ewilliams@utah.gov  385-303-4383

Rockport Reservoir in the morning as the sun rises with heavy cloud coverage
Published September 17, 2026

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 17, 2026) – As autumn approaches and nighttime temperatures cool down, the Utah Division of Water Resources reminds Utahns to adjust their irrigation habits and prepare for the upcoming water year. “With shorter days and cooler evening temperatures, landscape water requirements decrease significantly,” Joel Williams, director at the Division of Water …

Read Full Article
collage of three older toilets
Published August 28, 2026

After helping thousands of Utah homeowners upgrade to water-efficient toilets over the past several years, the Utah Water Savers Toilet Replacement Program will be coming to a close. Since launching in 2019, the program has helped more than 4,500 Utah households replace nearly 6,000 older, high-water-use toilets with new EPA WaterSense® labeled models, saving millions …

Read Full Article
East Canyon Reservoir with receding water showing plenty of beach space
Published August 27, 2026

SALT LAKE CITY (August 27, 2026) – While recent monsoon rains have reduced demand on local supply and storage in some areas, it will not be enough to pull Utah out of the drought. Reservoirs and lakes will continue to decline until October, when irrigation season ends. 

Read Full Article