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Show 37 The Farm Service Agency representative spoke at the meeting about their efforts to secure a temporary allowance of grazing on the Conservation Reserve Program lands. It was agreed by all present that such action would help mitigate the impacts the drought has had, and will continue to have, on the availability of feed for livestock. It was pointed out, however, the decision to allow grazing on CRP lands is not made locally. Since that meeting, the Farm Service has lifted grazing restrictions on CRP lands in the San Juan County. It would be helpful if this grazing variance were expanded to include the other southern Utah counties that also face severe drought conditions. To help reduce the impacts of the drought, state agencies are taking actions. The Division of Water Rights is prepared to expedite the well permitting process and approval of temporary water rights for drought- related mitigation. The Board of Water Resources has low and no interest loans and will give priority to projects that address drought related water problems. The State's Community Impact Board has also gone on record to give preferential consideration and priority status to projects that include drought mitigation. Dissemination of information regarding the drought situation and raising public awareness about the critical nature of Utah's water supply levels has been effective. The state and other water agencies have worked with the local news media ( television, newspapers and radio) to keep the general public aware of the drought situation and informed about ways the average citizen can help. Public response and support has been gratifying. Long- term Water Supply Outlook Even in normal years, Utah has a limited water supply. It is the second driest state in the Nation. Most of Utah is classified as a desert receiving less than 13 inches of annual precipitation. Fortunately, previous generations of Utahns provided for a sufficient water supply by constructing many water storage reservoirs along with the associated collection, transportation and distribution systems. Federal projects such as the Weber Basin, Central Utah and Joes Valley, along with local projects funded in part by the Utah Board of Water Resources and the Utah Drinking Water Board, have provided additional water as well as infrastructure replacement. The Utah Division of Water Resources and the Utah Board of Water Resources have been directed by the Utah Legislature to plan for the future water needs of Utah. An integral part of this process has been the development of a State Water Plan. The overall plan is based on hydrologic river basin plans developed in cooperation with local water users, and local and State government agencies involved in water use and management. The plan identifies resources available, current usages and future demand based on estimates of population growth by the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget. The plan also identifies areas of water quality, instream use and recreation that need to be addressed. A significant finding of the Utah State Water Plan is that we must become more efficient with the use of its existing water supplies. In the residential sector, Utahns have the second highest water usage rate in the Nation, partly due to the desert environment and developed landscapes dependent on irrigation. Now we face the need to provide for future generations. To do this Governor Leavitt has initiated a Statewide Water Conservation Initiative. Not only is the initiative a response to the current drought, it will provide a legacy of intelligent water use for future generations. Water conservation will play a significant role in meeting the water needs of future generations. Utah has set a goal of reducing per capita water usage by 25 percent over the next 50 years. Governor's Water Conservation Team Governor Leavitt appointed the " Governors Water Conservation Team" comprised of representatives from major water districts, state agencies, municipal water user organizations, Envision Utah, and the " green" industry and gave them the challenge to develop a coordinated statewide program that would encourage water conservation. The team in its second year of existence, funded a media campaign of television and radio ads, brochures and public presentations that provided information on the importance of using our water resources efficiently and tips on ways to conserve. Communities have been asked to pass a time- of- day water ordinance ( no watering of lawns from 10: 00 AM to 6: 00 PM each day), and to develop a water conservation pricing schedule. In addition, a new State of Utah water conservation web page www. conservewater. utah. gov has been developed with helpful water conservation information. |