The Planning Branch is responsible for water planning activities and programs that help state, regional and local water managers make informed decisions. This includes gathering land use, water supply and water use data; estimating future water demands based on population and other parameters; studying emerging water issues and innovative water management technologies; and maintaining and enhancing hydrologic models for various river basins. These efforts provide critical data and information that is included in the State Water Plan and 11 individual River Basin Plans.

Planning Branch Sections:

• Basin Planning – prepares the State Water Plan, individual River Basin Plans, and other studies that help inform and enhance water management statewide. The section also compiles statewide data for the division’s water budget program; works to establish and update regional water conservation goals; and regularly monitors drought conditions. 
• Conservation & Efficiency – administers and promotes several programs aimed at water education and conservation outreach to encourage all Utahns and sectors to do their part to conserve Utah’s most precious resource, water, by embracing a waterwise ethic to safeguard the future of Utah.
• Hydrology & Modeling  – gathers climatic, streamflow, and other data for use in various models, including: a statewide water budget model, supply and demand model, and numerous river basin models. These models help determine available water supplies, help optimize the operation of various water systems, and helps ensure safe operation of dams. This section also oversees the state’s cloud seeding program. 
• Technical Services – provides Geographic Information Systems and Computer Aided Design services to the Division, our partners, and the public. Technical Services stewards several data sets such as Water-Related Land Use, Culinary Water Supplier Boundaries, and more. The section also produces interactive map products, many of which are hosted on our Open Data website.