The Utah Watersheds Council is the state council that is directed to serve as a forum to encourage and facilitate discussion and collaboration by and among the stakeholders relative to the water-related interests of the state and the state’s people and institutions. The specific duties of the state council include the following:
- Facilitate communication and coordination between the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of Environmental Quality, and other state and federal agencies in the administration and implementation of water-related activities
- Facilitate the establishment of local watershed councils by certifying a local council
- Provide resources and support for the administration of local councils
- Consult and seek guidance from local councils
- Provide advice to the governor and legislature on water issues
The Division of Water Resources provides staff and administrative support for the council and will ensure that meetings of the council are properly noticed on the Public Meeting Website and that the council’s policies are available through its public website.
The Utah Watersheds Council will provide updates on its activities annually, or as invited, to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee; the Legislative Water Development Commission; and the Utah Water Task Force.
For general inquires, email watershedcouncils@utah.gov
Meeting Schedule & Minutes
All meetings will be held at the following address unless otherwise noted in the table below:
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
1594 West North Temple, Auditorium
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Date | Time | Location | Meeting Link | Agenda | Minutes |
January 18, 2024 | 1 - 3 p.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | |
April 4, 2024 | 1 - 3 p.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | |
July 11, 2024 | 1 - 3 p.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | |
October 9, 2024 | 1 - 3 p.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | |
January 14, 2025 | 9 - 11 a.m. | Kane County Water Conservancy District | Live | Recording | |
April 10, 2025 | 1 - 3 p.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | A | M |
Past Meeting Schedule & Minutes
Date | Time | Location | Meeting Link | Agenda | Minutes |
October 12, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | |
July 13, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | |
April 12, 2023 | 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | |
January 10, 2023 | 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | |
October 5, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | |
July 14, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | |
April 14, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | DNR Auditorium/Virtual | Live | Recording | |
January 6, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | DNR Auditorium | Live | Recording |
Members
The membership of the Utah Watersheds Council is dictated by the Watershed Councils Act. Current members of the council are listed below:
Name | Title or Interest Represented |
Robert Moore | |
Scott Paxman, Chair | Reclamation project sponsors |
Joel Ferry | Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources |
Kim Shelley | Executive Director, Department of Environmental Quality |
Craig Buttars | Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Food |
Dustin Jansen | Director, Utah Division of Indian Affairs |
Ken White | Vice President, Utah State University Extension |
Kris Hamlet | Director, Division of Emergency Management |
Victor Iverson | |
Mark Stratford | |
Val Jay Rigby | Agriculture |
Marcelle Shoop | Environment and Conservation |
Rikki Hrenko-Browning | Business and Industry |
Warren Peterson | Water Attorney |
Candice Hasenyager, non-voting member | Division of Water Resources Director |
Teresa Wilhelmsen, non-voting member | State Engineer/Division of Water Rights Director |
Nathan Daugs | |
Laura Briefer | |
Scott Chew | |
Sterling Brown, Vice Chair | |
Brett Palmer | |
Rick Smith | |
Andy Nickle | |
Mike Noel | |
Tammy Pearson | |
Bill Winfield | |
Cody Allred | |
TBD |
Policies
Contact
If you would like to be informed about the Utah Watersheds Council, or if you have any questions or ideas for the council, please contact us. We are here to serve you and help ensure that the council brings benefits to you and the State of Utah.
- Scott Paxman, Chair, 435-544-0103 or spaxman@weberbasin.com
- Sterling Brown, Vice Chair, 801-547-2688 or sterling@strawberrywater.com
- Carly Payne, Watershed Councils Coordinator, Utah Division of Water Resources, 801-600-5629 or carlypayne@utah.gov
- Todd Stonely, Utah Division of Water Resources, 801-538-7277 or toddstonely@utah.gov