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Bridging-the-Headgate in Utah
Reclamation in Utah
The State of Utah is primarily served by Reclamation's Provo Area Office headquartered in Provo, Utah. A very small portion of the southwestern corner of the state is covered by the Lower Colorado Area Office in Boulder City, Nevada (see map, and table of contacts below).
BRIDGING-THE-HEADGATE (BTH), UTAH STYLE
Vision Statement: “The Utah Bridging-the-Headgate partnership is an alliance of local, state and national associations and/or agencies working for sustainable and efficient use of western agricultural water supplies.”
Mission Statement: “To coordinate opportunities for partnership members to facilitate and promote agriculture water use efficiency and conservation through planning, training and information dissemination.”
Since its founding, Utah’s statewide Bridging-the-Headgate partnership has charted new territory in managing the states agricultural water resources. The partnership has been working together informally for years, but the BTH initiative provided an opportunity to find common ground and brought all partners to the table in the mutual goal of water resource management.
The Partnership
The partnership has the desire and commitment to be proactive and assist local entities with on-the-ground resource management issues. The Utah alliance brings together the Bureau of Reclamations Provo Area Office (BOR), the Utah Association of Conservation Districts (UACD), the Utah Water Users Association (UWUA), the Natural Resources Conservation Services Utah Office (NRCS), the Utah Department of Agricultural and Food (UDAF), the Utah Division of Water Resources (DWR), and Utah State University Extension Service (USU).Utah’s Alliance developed the vision and mission statements shown above and a strategic plan for continuing this partnership and are presently investigating innovative methods to continue funding for a planner/facilitator position as well as looking at ways to cooperatively fund other resource projects.
The partnership has met regularly to discuss resource management issues and opportunities; hosted the NACD, NASCA & BOR 17 Western States meeting in Utah; hosted the National NACD Water Resources Committee meeting and tour in Utah; hosted several Farmers Disappearing Ditch /Urban Encroachment/Water Measurement and Management Workshops; and has made presentations about the viability of the partnership to several Water User Groups. The successes of the Utah’s alliance have been highlighted at several national Bridging-the-Headgate partnership conferences.
Out of the Disappearing Ditch/Urban Encroachment/Water Measurement and Management workshops sponsored by BTH, several legal documents have been developed and made available for irrigation companies use (i.e., Cooperative storm water management agreement templates; master agreement for crossing and encroachments; canal recreational use; subdivision plat covenants; land use change applications; pathway agreements).
Currently, a series of specialized training classes are planned for users of Reclamation water to help them use new computerized tools to complete the water budget portion of their conservation plans.
In 2000, after a year of discussion and preparation, the partnership hired a full-time planner/facilitator to provide technical assistance in water management and conservation planning to water users and organizations throughout the state. A facilitator/planner, hired through a cooperative agreement with the Utah Association of Conservation Districts, provides on-the-ground assistance to small irrigation companies in cooperation with the Utah Water Users Association. The partnership has provided field-level planning assistance to Reclamation project water users and many small irrigation companies throughout Utah providing benefits to these irrigation companies through local conservation district assistance.
Activities and Accomplishments of BTH facilitator/planner Kevin Creer
Assisted interested water users in obtaining the technical and/or financial assistance to complete their water management plans:
Follow up with companies committed to planning and provide technical and quality assurance review:
Provided Water Conservation Education:
Provided Technical Training:
Scheduled and made presentations at local water users regular meetings:
Represented the partnership at and made presentations to related water meetings, workshops and conferences:
