Project Grant R23AP00371

WASHINGTON COUNTY IS THE FASTEST GROWING METRO AREA IN THE UNITED STATES AND UTAHS HOTTEST, DRIEST REGION. WATER SUPPLIES IN THE WASHINGTON COUNTY AREA ARE LIMITED TO THE VIRGIN RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN (GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER), WHICH IS A FLASHY DESERT STREAM SYSTEM REACHING ITS FULL DEVELOPMENTAL CAPACITY.REGIONAL PLANNING PROCESSES HAVE IDENTIFIED A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF FUTURE PRACTICES AND PROJECTS TO MEET FUTURE NEEDS BY SECURING AND STRETCHING LIMITED LOCAL WATER SUPPLIES THREATENED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL CONSERVATION, REGIONAL REUSE, LOCAL RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY DEVELOPMENT, AND COLORADO RIVER IMPORTS.THE MULTIPURPOSE ASH CREEK PROJECT WILL DEVELOP WATER RESOURCES WITHIN THE ASH CREEK WATERSHED TO HELP MAXIMIZE LOCAL RELIABLE WATER SUPPLIES AND INCREASE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF A NEW PIPELINE FROM THE OUTLET OF THE EXISTING ASH CREEK RESERVOIR TO THE NEW OFFSTREAM TOQUER RESERVOIR LOCATED ON THE NORTH END OF TOQUERVILLE. AT FULL CAPACITY(3,725 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL), THE SURFACE AREA OF THE PROPOSED TOQUER RESERVOIR WILL BE 115 ACRES AND HOLD 3,638 ACRE-FEET OF WATER. THE PROPOSED RECREATION AND PUBLIC PURPOSES (R PP)LEASE AND SUBSEQUENT PATENT AREA IS FOR APPROXIMATELY 13 ACRES OF BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT-ADMINISTERED LANDS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOQUER RESERVOIR RECREATION AREA.THE ASH CREEK PROJECT IS PART OF A PROPOSED WATER SYSTEM THAT WILL SUPPLY UP TO 1,793 ACRE-FEET PER YEAR OF AN ALTERNATE SOURCE OF SECONDARY IRRIGATION WATER TO THE TOQUERVILLE SECONDARY WATER SYSTEM (TSWS) AND THROUGH EXCHANGE ALLOW WATER FROM TOQUERVILLE SPRINGS, THE CURRENT TSWS SUPPLY SOURCE, TO BE DELIVERED AS POTABLE MUNICIPAL WATER IN TOQUERVILLE, LA VERKIN, AND HURRICANE. WCWCD S PRIMARY PURPOSES FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT ARE:1. CONSERVE A PORTION OF THE SURFACE RUN-OFF THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING LOST TO SEEPAGE IN THE ASH CREEK RESERVOIR AND PIPE IT TO A NEW OFF-STREAM RESERVOIR SITE (TOQUER RESERVOIR) THAT WILL MORE EFFECTIVELY STORE WATER AND HELP ENSURE PREDICTABLE WATER SUPPLIES TO WATER RIGHTS HOLDERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES 2. MINIMIZE WATER LOSSES TO SEEPAGE AND EVAPOTRANSPIRATION BY REPLACING OPEN DITCHES WITH PRESSURIZED PIPELINES IN THE PROJECT AREA 3. CONSERVE HIGH QUALITY POTABLE WATER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION (POTABLE USES), BY SUBSTITUTING LOWER QUALITY WATER FOR SECONDARY IRRIGATION AND4. PROVIDE FOR SAFE AND ENJOYABLE WATER-BASED PUBLIC RECREATIONAL USES, THEREBY BENEFITTING LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE AREA.