Feds fund 2 Utah water projects

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has awarded water conservation grants of $100,000 each to a pair of Utah projects.

The awards were among $1.3 million in challenge grants for water conservation projects in seven Western states announced this week. When matching contributions of non-federal entities are added in, the project "represent a combined investment of more than $5.6 million in water management improvements," says a press release issued by the Interior Department, which includes the Bureau.

The projects were identified in a program called "Water 2025: Preventing Crises and Conflict in the West."

"The Western states are experiencing increased water supply challenges and the continuing drought makes these pressures more acute," Dirk Kempthorne, the department's secretary, said in the release.

"Chronic water shortages, explosive population growth, over-allocated watersheds, environmental needs and aging water facilities are combining to create the potential for crisis and conflict over water," Kempthorne added.

The grants are intended to help alleviate the stresses by improving conservation, and thus water supply.

Grants awarded in Utah went to:

• The Huntsville South Bench Canal Co., to help replace 3.3 miles of open canal with pipe and install 17 turnout structures. "The project is estimated to save 430 acre-feet of water a year," the press release says. Total project cost is $1.43 million, including the $100,000 contribution from the Water 2025 program.

• The Utah Division of Water Resources. The division will help install 250 to 300 landscape evapotranspiration controllers in residential irrigation systems, says the Interior Department. This is designed to improve water use efficiency.

"The project is estimated to save 103 acre-feet of water per year," adds the release. The project's total cost is $298,000, including the $100,000 from Water 2025.