PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE: UINTAH WATER CONSERVANCYDISTRICT’S STRATEGY TO MEET WATER CHALLENGES

摘要

Over the past few decades, plans to increase the water supply for irrigation in the UintaRiver Basin have not materialized. Because of this, the Uintah Water ConservancyDistrict (UWCD) is looking at the big picture when it comes to sustaining the irrigationwater supply in western Uintah County, Utah. By taking advantage of the synergy ofprojects past, present, and future, the water supply from two river systems is being usedand managed more efficiently.Past: The West Side Combined Canals Salinity Project (Combined Canals) is a uniquecombined irrigation project which replaced 46.4 miles of 7 canals with one diversionstructure, 15 miles of main transmission pipeline, and 21 miles of laterals.Present: The Green River Pumping Project (GRPP) will develop 8,500 acre-feet ofGreen River water for supplemental irrigation. With the implementation of the GRPPand use of the Combined Canals facilities, use of water from the Uinta, Whiterocks, andGreen Rivers will be optimized through a water exchange.Future: UWCD is collaborating with the Duchesne County and Central Utah WaterConservancy Districts to establish a basin-wide water development project known as theGreen River Exchange Project. The Districts have investigated the potential forcombining upstream storage on the Uinta River with pumping from the Green River tomake further water exchanges possible.