HomeMy Public PortalAboutRES-CC-2018-17CITY OF MOAB RESOLUTION NO. 17-2018
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UTAH DIVISION OF WATER RIGHTS TO LIMIT NEW
ALLOCATIONS WITHIN SPANISH VALLEY
WHEREAS, Moab's municipal government is responsible for the promotion of the public health and
safety of its residents, including access to clean air, clean water and a livable environment; and
WHEREAS, the Moab Water Conservation and Drought Management Advisory Board, which is
responsible for providing recommendations to protect water quality and quantity for present and future
generations, advocates for this request; and
WHEREAS, Utah Code Title 73 requires indefinitely sustainable groundwater resources; and
WHEREAS, the recent groundwater study of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows a
substantial reduction in available ground water which could be further reduced by climate change; and
WHEREAS, climate change, including its human -activity -driven impacts, predicts more frequent drought
conditions in decades to come, and on January 16, 2018, Grand County Council declared the County a
disaster area because of drought; and
WHEREAS, current and projected water uses in Moab City and Spanish Valley are anticipated to meet or
exceed safe yield in the near future, and according to the State Engineer, the water supply could be
reduced by up to 30 percent due to climate change; and
WHEREAS, the Spanish Valley aquifer is widely recognized, including by Utah Division of Water Rights
(UDWRi), to be substantially over -appropriated which is reflected in the UDWRi initiative to begin an
adjudication process and to develop a regional groundwater management plan; and
WHEREAS, continuing to perpetuate the impression that abundant groundwater resources are available
for unchecked development is misleading and a disservice to valley residents; and
WHEREAS, UDWRi(https://www.waterrights.utah.gov/wrinfo/policy/wateruse.asp) has determined 0.45
AF or 146,633 gallons as an estimated annual need for indoor use of a permanent fulltime single family
residence and 0.25 AF or 81,473 gallons for a seasonal family residence; and
WHEREAS, unused or underutilized paper water rights currently exist in the Moab and Spanish Valley
areas which need to be available for future development; and
WHEREAS, the Moab City Council acknowledges that proactively addressing adequate water resources is
fundamental to our community's financial stability and livability.
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Moab City Council requests the Utah Division of Water Rights, for a
period of time extending to or beyond completion of the Groundwater Management Plan, to either a)
close the Moab Spanish Valley aquifer to new appropriations, or b) limit new appropriations to 1/2 an
acre foot for permanent residences and 1/4 an acre foot for seasonal residences and require larger
appropriations to be obtained from the existing inventory of water rights in the Valley.
PASSED AND APPROVED in open Council by a majority vote of the Governing Body of Moab City Council
this 13`h day of March, 2018.
ATTEST:
Rachel E. Stenta, City Recorder
SIGNED:
Emily S. Niehaus, Mayor