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SUMMARY: Groundwater Protection Analysis for Moab City and Spanish Valley

January 02, 2023
by John Weisheit

YES! Canyonlands Watershed Council is a charitable organization.

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The following analyses for groundwater protection in Moab & Spanish Valley includes contributions from the following organizations:

  • Utah Division of Water Rights
  • US Geological Survey
  • Utah Geological Survey
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • US Forest Service
  • Western Water Assessment (NOAA)
  • University of Utah
  • Utah State University
  • Southeast Utah Health Department
  • Moab City
  • Grand County and its Special Service Districts
  • San Juan Spanish Valley Special Service District
  • Moab Area Watershed Partnership
  • Canyonlands Watershed Council
  • Living Rivers & Colorado Riverkeeper

PRESENTATIONS: MAWP MEETING OF MARCH, 2021
Summaries of Moab-Spanish Valley Groundwater Studies

CITY AND COUNTY MEETINGS (Virtual)

 

MOAB NEWS: Water Scarcity Issues Confronting Moab-Spanish Valley

  • Click here to read this story by Kate Groetzinger from KUER Public Radio called "Moab May Be Running Out Of Water. That’s Prompting Residents To Rethink Conservation And Development. "
  • Click here to read this story by Graham Dudley from KSL TV called "How Much Water Is Really Under Moab? Scientists say, Less Than Thought."
  • Click here to read "Moab's Aquifer May Be Maxed Out Prompting City To Explore Water Conservation" by Kate Groetzinger for KUER.
  • Click here to ready this story by Doug McMurdo of Times-Independent: "Water restrictions coming to Moab."
  • Click here to read this story by Rachel Fixsen of Moab Sun News: "Thirsty Valley: City Officials Take Hard Look At Water Resources
  • Click here to read this story by Doug McMurdo of Moab Times-Independent: "Got Water? More Questions Than Answers On Aquifer Capacity"
  • Click here to read this story by Moab Sun News called "USGS Study Shows Less Water Than Previously Reported"
  • Click here to read this story by Dennis Webb in the Grand Junction Sentinel about how the Western Slope of Colorado and Grand County, Utah are warming at a faster pace than the rest of the USA
  • Click here to read this story by Carter Pape of Times Independent called "Moab Watershed 30 to 40 Percent Smaller Than Previously Reported"
  • Click here to read this story by Carter Pape of Times Independent called "How Water Ends Up In Moab"
  • Click here to read this story by Carter Pape of Times Independent called "USGS Confirms Valley Water Budget"

UTAH CODE FOR GROUNDWATER PROTECTION

2021 - STATE ENGINEER RESTRICTIONS FOR NEW APPROPRIATIONS IN MOAB AREA (reference)

SURFACE & GROUND WATER: The water resources of this area are considered to be limited. New appropriations are limited to small amounts of beneficial use sufficient to serve the domestic requirements of one family, the irrigation of one acre, and ten head of livestock (or equivalent livestock units). New diversions and consumptive uses that require more water than this must be accomplished by filing a change application on valid existing water rights owned or acquired by the applicant. However, some water is available for larger appropriations on a Temporary (one-year) or Fixed Time period basis. Non-consumptive uses such as hydroelectric power generation would be considered on the individual merits of each application.

All applications, including changes on existing water rights, are considered on their individual merits, with emphasis on their potential to interfere with existing rights and to ensure that there is no enlargement of the underlying rights.

Applications are generally approved upon showing of an immediate need for water and with the presumptions that the applicant has all necessary resources and authorities to diligently develop the proposed beneficial uses of water and to file proof. Proof must be submitted by a registered land surveyor or engineer licensed in the State of Utah. Requests for extensions of time in which to submit proof will be critically reviewed after the initial five-year period.

The following specific restrictions apply:

  • Moab City - No appropriations for domestic use will be approved within the city limits of Moab.  Limited stockwatering (up to ten head of livestock) and 1/4 acre of irrigation use east of Main Street will be considered.  Larger use appropriations west of Main Street to the Colorado River, for up to ten head of livestock watering and 1 acre of irrigation, will be accepted and reviewed on their individual merits.
  • Willow Basin - Surface waters are closed to new appropriations. New diversions and consumptive uses must be accomplished by filing a change application on valid existing water rights owned or acquired by the applicant. New applications for ground water are limited to 2 acre feet. Click here to see a map of the restricted area.
  • Mill Creek Upper Watershed Drainage - Surface and ground waters are closed to new appropriations. New diversions and consumptive uses must be accomplished by filing a change application on valid existing First Class priority water rights or water shares based on First Class priority water rights held by the Moab Irrigation Company. Change approval may require the installation of meters and regulation by the Mill Creek Commissioner at the applicant’s expense. Click here to see a map of the restricted area.
  • Town of Castle Valley – Surface and ground waters are closed to new appropriations within the municipal boundaries of the town. New diversions and consumptive uses must be accomplished by filing a change application on valid existing water rights owned or acquired by the applicant. Water will also remain available for use based on a water permit agreement with the Town of Castle Valley. Click here to see a map of the restricted area.

    LEGAL REVIEWS
    COMPILATION OF RECENT HYDROGEOLOGY ASSESSMENTS

    MOAB CITY HYDROLOGIC ASSESSMENTS

    Hydrologic And Hydrogeologic Assessment (HESA)* of the surface water and groundwater resources affecting the Moab City Springs and Wells & surface water of Mill Creek and Pack Creek in Moab-Spanish Valley in Grand County and San Juan County. By Hydrologic Systems Analysis, & Heath Hydrology, contractors for Moab City.

    * HESA - Hydrological and Environmental Systems Analysis involves the management, processing and interpretation of huge amounts of geoscientific as well as ecological and historical data of many different types and sources, which can only be handled coherently and efficiently by using interactive Geoscientific Information Systems (GIS).


    MOAB CITY COUNCIL

    UTAH DIVISION OF WATER RIGHTS (UDWRi)

    MOAB AREA WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP (MAWP)

    MOAB WETLANDS AND COLORADO RIVER FLOODPLAIN

    WATER SUPPLY & DEMAND ASSESSMENTS


    POPULATION STATISTICS

    WATER CONSERVATION PLANS

    WATER USAGE PLANS & PROJECTIONS

    CLIMATE ASSESSMENT & CLIMATE ADAPTATION

    GROUNDWATER MONITORING DATA

    US Geological Survey
    San Juan Spanish Valley Special Service District
    SURFACE WATER MONITORING DATA FOR GRAND COUNTY

    US Geological Survey
    • Mill Creek above Sheley Tunnel #09183500
    • Mill Creek below Sheley Tunnel #09183600
    • Note: Sheley Tunnel is a diversion into Ken's Lake
    • Mill Creek below mouth of Pack Creek (Moab) #09185100
    • Upper Pack Creek (gage installation is recommended)
    • Dolores River mouth (before confluence with Colorado River) #0918000
    • Colorado River below mouth of Dolores River ("Cisco") #091805000
    • Colorado River below Potash Boat Ramp (last gage on the Colorado River above the confluence with the Green River) #09185600
    • Green River at Green River City #09315000
    • Green River below Mineral Bottom Boat Ramp (last gage on the Green River) #09328920

    WEATHER STATIONS AND DATA FOR GRAND COUNTY

     

     


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