Record-dry spring prompts Utah water district to adopt first drought resolution
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — As Utah faced its warmest winter on record, one of the state’s largest water providers took action, but some questioned whether it was enough.
The Central Utah Water Conservancy District, which supplies water to roughly 2 million people across central Utah, approved its first-ever drought resolution this week. The move formally acknowledged the severity of current conditions.
Out in Provo Canyon, the effects of the drought were already visible. Water that would typically rush through the canyon was reduced to a slow, shallow flow as supplies continued to shrink.
“It’s sad to think how it’s going to affect the wildlife, the environment — especially now that it’s coming into summer, because there are a lot of wildfires,” said resident Daniela Jimenez.
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District leaders said the situation was unlike anything they had seen before.
“We have never seen anything as bad as what we’re seeing now,” said Bart Leeflang, assistant general manager of the district.
Still, some critics argued that formally acknowledging the drought didn’t go far enough, especially without enforceable conservation measures. When asked about those concerns, Leeflang said more could always be done, but emphasized the district’s role was limited.
“Central Utah as an organization doesn’t use a drop of water,” he said. “We wholesale water. We sell it to municipalities whose citizens use the water. So where the rubber meets the road is with the citizens and how they use the water.”
That was where conservation efforts were focused. According to Central Utah Water, the biggest source of waste wasn’t inside homes — it was outside. Landscaping accounted for the majority of unnecessary water use across the region.
“The landscape is actually where most water is wasted that we’re seeing,” said Amanda Strack, the district’s water conservation manager.
To address that, the district offered financial incentives for residents willing to make changes. Homeowners could receive up to $3 per square foot to replace traditional grass with water-wise landscaping.
The goal, they said, was to educate and encourage conservation rather than impose restrictions — at least for now.
For residents like Jimenez, the drought was both concerning and motivating.
“It’s scary, but it’s also a wake-up call,” she said. “I think collectively we can make a big difference. It might not seem like one person can change the whole situation, but if we all work together, we can definitely make a difference.”
The district said the resolution would help guide staffing and expand conservation programs in the months ahead as drought conditions persisted.
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