Water Releases

Water deliveries through ULS facilities would provide opportunities for streamflow enhancements. The ULS would provide a means for conveying a portion of the Bonneville Unit water that would otherwise be released down the Spanish Fork River to Utah Lake (for purposes of the Jordanelle Exchange) to Hobble Creek and the lower Provo River to assist in June sucker recovery and to supplement streamflows. This supplemental water would be available in 6 out of 10 years when water is needed for the M&I System Jordanelle exchange. A portion of this water, averaging approximately 16,300 acre-feet per year, is needed for mandatory instream flows in Sixth Water and Diamond Fork Creek and would not be available for transport to the Provo River or Hobble Creek

Section 207 of the Central Utah Project Completion Act authorizes the District to implement a comprehensive plan to study and improve water management. The plan includes the establishment of a water conservation goal nd the Water Conservation Credit Program. The Credit Program helps to identify, evaluate and implement water conservation measures that will aid the District in meeting the 49,622 acre-feet of water per year conservation goal, along with allocating $50 million in authorized federal funds available for conservation measures.

In December 2002, an amendment to CUPCA increased the authorization level for federal funding for this program.

Since the District established the Credit Program in 1993, over 119 applications for water conservation measures have been submitted. Projects may vary in size and type. Concepts range from sprinkler irrigation to recycling, canal lining, and plumbing retrofit projects.

ULS Stream Flow Improvements
Supplemental Streamflow Source
Lower Provo River
(acre-feet)
Hobble Creek
(acre-feet)
Spanish Fork River
(acre-feet)
North Utah County Section 207 Conservation Projects
12,165
0
0
Utah Reclamation and Mitigation Conservation Commission Water Right Acquisitions
3,300
0
0
South Utah County Section 207 Conservation Projects
0
4,000
0
Diamond Fork System Instream Flows (M&I Exchange)
0
0
16,300
Remaining M&I Exchange
16,000
8,000
0
TOTAL
31,465
12,000
16,300

Bonneville Unit Instream Flow Requirements and Supplemental Flow Reaches