By Julie Johansen
Emery County Water Conservancy District’s (EWCD) recent public hearing presented and explained reasons why the transfer of Title from the United States to the Water Conservancy District is so important and expedient. Members of the EWCD board and concerned citizens watched a slide presentation and listened to the recommendations from the board.
As early as 1876 when settlers first came to Emery County, the importance of water was apparent. In 1884, the first canal was constructed on the Huntington drainage. In the 1930s following a severe drought, the state planning board approved Joe’s Valley Reservoir, but because of World War 2 the project was put on hold. Then, in 1956, the Colorado River Storage Project approved Joe’s Valley. By 1966, all the major features of the project were completed. These features include Joe’s Valley Dam and Reservoir, Huntington North Dam and Reservoir, Swasey Diversion Dam, Huntington and Cottonwood Creek Canals, as well as the upper lakes. This would include over 225,000 acre feet of water rights to be transferred from the Bureau of Reclamation to the EWCD. This project has been completed for over 50 years and has been completely paid off since 2016.
Some the important reasons for the title transfer include: #1. The mortgage is paid off. #2. The project needs work and will continue to need repairs or replacement as it grows older and without ownership of the water rights, there will be little or no ability to collateralize funding for borrowing power. #3. Local control of the resource will benefit and protect the project. #4. Ending federal ownership curbs federal compliance obligations. #5. Termination of federal ownership reduces uninsured liability exposure for local entities. #6. The needs and management of the project are better handled on the local level. #7. Some two dozen other completed and paid for projects have received titles from the BOR.
Now, the EWCD is going through the process required to receive the title to the water rights on the Joe’s Valley Project. Federal legislation is required, NEPA, title research, assignments of deed and right-of-ways, and assignment of all contracts and then the transfer of all water rights. They feel that the window of opportunity is short and expediency is important.
Ryan Proctor of the Bureau of Reclamation pointed out the relationship with EWCD and the Bureau has been great and they will continue to work with the district. He did, however, make the district aware that in the title transfers there has not been a high hazard dam transfer. He further informed the group that the storage rights are secure.
Public comment included commendation remarks to the board and questions regarding the legislation process. Congressional candidate Christopher Herrod attended the meeting and was very supportive of the EWCD.