Congressman Jim Matheson successfully passed his bill to help a rural Utah county’s water needs. Matheson’s H.R. 818 – legislation on behalf of the Uintah Water Conservancy District—passed the House overwhelmingly.
“This measure allows the Uintah County water district to repay money ahead of schedule. That benefits taxpayers and water users in the county,” said Matheson. “it will also help better manage and utilize water for the benefit of economic growth.”
The Uintah Water Conservancy District includes most of Uintah County. The District entered into a repayment contract with the federal government in 1976 to repay all reimbursable costs associated with the Jensen Unit of the Central Utah Project. The project’s purpose was to supply water for irrigation, industrial and municipal use in central and eastern Utah. The water district asked the Bureau of Reclamation to be allowed to make prepayments on the amounts it owes to the government which it estimates would reduce the cost of the water.
Matheson said the bill shortens the payment schedule from 2037 to 2022.