Watershed Council for the Moab and Castle Valley Watersheds

May 20th 2010

Topics

Water Studies

Source Protection

Water Studies

United States Geological Survey

Utah Geological Survey

US Geological Survey Studies• Sumsian (1971) Geology and water resources of the Spanish Valley Area: UT

DNR Tech. Pub 32

• Eychaner (1977) Numerical groundwater flow model of Spanish Valley: USGS Open-File Report 77-760

• Rush et al. (1982) Regional hydrology of the Green River-Moab area, northwestern Paradox Basin: USGS Open-File Report 82-107

• Weir et al. (1983) Reconnaissance of the geohydrology of the Moab-Monticello area, western Paradox Basin: USGS Water Resources Investigation Report 83-4098

• Blanchard (1990) Groundwater conditions in the Grand County Area, UT: UT DNR Tech. Pub 100

• Steiger and Susong (1997) Recharge areas and groundwater for the Glen Canyon and valley-fill aquifes, Spanish Valley: USGS WRI Report 97-4206

Previous Studies

Utah Geological Survey Studies• Gloyn et al. (1995) Mineral, energy, and groundwater resources of

San Juan County: UGS Special Study 86

• Eisinger and Lowe (1999) Summary of groundwater resources of Grand County: UGS Circular 99

• Doelling (2001, 2004) Geologic maps of the Moab and La Sal quadrangles: UGS Maps 180, 181, 205

• Lowe et al. (2007) Hydrogeology of Moab-Spanish Valley, with emphasis on maps for water-resource management and land-use planning: UGS Special Study 120

Previous Studies

Future Study

Water

Resources

Development

Act

Objective: to provide necessary hydrologic information to effectively plan for future water-resources development

• Conceptual understanding of aquifer system– Groundwater availability– Groundwater quality and susceptibility to contamination– Recharge sources, flow paths, residence times

• Optimizing management strategies– Evaluation of additional groundwater resources– Evaluation of potential effects of future development on

current resources and water supply

Source Protection

• HB 40

• Need

HB 40

• Original Bill required all Counties to adopt an ordinance protecting drinking water sources

• No later than May 3rd 2010• Bill was amended 2009 only requiring

Counties of the 1st & 2nd Class to adopt an ordinance protecting drinking water sources

• Bill no longer applies to Grand County

Need for Source Protection

• GWSSA feels there is a need and would like to see a County wide plan implemented

• Moab City and GWSSA both have a Source protection plan

• GWSSA also feels that it would be in both the County’s and the City’s best interest to adopt a common plan