Salt Lake Valley Groundwater Management Plan State of Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Water Rights

Objectives #Give a Hydrogeologic overview of the water resources in Salt lake Valley #Familiarize the water user with work that the USGS has done since the Interim Management Plan was implemented. #Propose a management plan to replace the existing Interim Plan #Get comments from the water users

Hydrogeology of Salt Lake Valley

United States Geological Survey Studies #Chemical composition of groundwater, hydrologic properties of basin-fill material, and groundwater movement in Salt Lake Valley Utah #Numerical simulation of groundwater flow in basin- fill material in Salt Lake Valley, Utah #Particle-tracking analysis of time-related capture zones for selected public-supply wells in Salt Lake Valley, Utah #Numerical simulation of the movement of sulfate in groundwater in southwestern Salt Lake Valley, Utah

Salt Lake Valley

Analysis of the Aquifer System #The USGS models were run with no changes #The USGS models were run with modifications to simulate various pumping scenarios #The USGS model output was analyzed to determine aquifer response to various pumping scenarios

Valley Wide Problems #Areas of concentrated groundwater withdrawals #Movement of poorer quality water to areas of good quality water #Localized large drawdowns #Variations in water quality across the valley

Groundwater Issues East of the Jordan River #Quantity Bgradient change #Quality Bmigration of poor quality water

Potential Withdrawal and Groundwater Flow

Groundwater Issues West of the Jordan River #Quantity Blocalized withdrawals #Quality Blocalized areas of poor quality water

Objectives of the Plan #Allow maximum utilization of the groundwater resource while: Bprotecting the aquifer Bprotecting existing water rights

Salt Lake Valley Groundwater Management Plan #Groundwater Withdrawal Limits #Change Applications #Proof of Appropriation/Change #Well Spacing and Flow rate #Applications to Appropriate Water and Segregation Applications #Extensions of Time for Applications to Appropriate Water #Metering and Annual Reporting of Groundwater Withdrawals #Monitoring Activities and Aquifer Status Update

Regional Groundwater Withdrawals from the Principal Aquifer #West region BBased on a 5 year moving average the maximum withdrawal is 70,000 acre- ft/year BMaximum withdrawal in any one year is 90,000 acre-ft # East Region BBased on a 5 year moving average the maximum withdrawal is 95,000 acre- ft/year BMaximum withdrawal in any one year is 120,000 acre-ft

Sub-Regional Groundwater Withdrawals from the Principal Aquifer #An Area of dense withdrawals is located in Township 1S, Township 2S, and sections 1-18 of Township 3S. #Based on a 5 year moving average the maximum withdrawal is 85,000 acre- ft/year

Localized Groundwater Withdrawals from the Principal Aquifer #The management grid is based on the U.S. Public Land Survey’s system #One management square consists of four sections, in a 2 by 2 configuration

Localized Groundwater Withdrawals from the Principal Aquifer #West Region BChanges will not be allowed into a management square that currently has withdrawals of 2,000 acre-ft/year or more # East Region BMaximum groundwater withdrawal in a management square is 12,000 acre-ft/year

Example of Potential Diversions

Groundwater Withdrawals from the Shallow Aquifer #Additional withdrawals will be allowed if: Bthe withdrawal is from the shallow aquifer Bthe withdrawal will not have adverse effects on other water rights

Groundwater Withdrawals from Restricted Areas #There are 2 areas with restricted pumping because of contamination: BVitro Tailings Site BSharon Steel Site #Purpose of restriction is to prevent Bchange in vertical gradient #New restricted areas may be added

Applications to Change the Point of Diversion, Place of Use, or Purpose of Use #Change applications will be evaluated based upon their own merits #The evaluation may include: Bimpact on existing water rights Bimpact on the aquifer system Bimpact on overall water quality

Change Applications that will not be Approved #Changes from shallow to deep aquifer #Changes from west region to east region #Changes in the East Region that would put a management square over the limit #Changes into the East Sub-Region from any other part of the valley #Changes in the West Region that would put a management square over the limit #Changes determined to have a negative impact on the aquifer system

Change Application Limits

Proof of Appropriation / Change #Volume of water to be certified must be fully developed and placed to beneficial use #The State Engineer will review the operation of the system

Well Spacing and Flow Rate #A well will not cause more than 12 feet of drawdown on any well with an earlier priority date #Users may enter into an agreement to provide a variance from this requirement on the conditions that: Bit does not interfere with third party rights Bit has been approved by the State Engineer

Applications to Appropriate /Segregate Water #Applications will be considered for single family uses where no public supply system is currently available #Maximum diversion of these rights shall be 1.0 acre-foot per year #The rights will be approved as fixed time for a 10 year period #Users will connect to a system when it becomes available

Extensions of Time for Applications to Appropriate Water #Extensions will be critically reviewed #Unjustified delays or lack of due diligence may cause requests to be denied in full or may be granted: Bwith a reduction in diversion quantity Ba reduced priority date Bdenied extension of time

Metering and Annual Reporting of Groundwater Withdrawals #Wells with a right to pump >50 acre- feet/year shall be equipped with a meter #Annual report of monthly diversions shall be submitted to the State Engineer by March 1 of each year #Wells with the right to pump >250 acre- feet/year shall be sampled and analyzed for total inorganics every 3 years

Monitoring Activities and Aquifer Status Update #The Division of Water Rights will: Bmonitor water quality data Bprovide a water quality update every 5 years Bprovide a withdrawal update report Bprovide current priority lists

Summary of Withdrawal Limits #West Region BAnnual Limit = 70,000 acre-ft BMaximum one year Limit = 90,000 acre-ft BManagement Square Limit = 2,000 acre-ft #East Region BAnnual Limit = 95,000 acre-ft BMaximum one year Limit = 120,000 acre-ft BManagement Square Limit = 12,000 acre-ft BEast Sub-Region = 85,000 acre-ft

Summary #Proposed plan is based on the most recent data and reports #Purpose of plan is to maximize utilization of the resource while minimizing possible negative impacts #This proposed plan will be modified according to comments from the water users