As we experience the driest water year in at least 42 years, the need for a clear, effective drought contingency plan for Washington County and its cities has never been more urgent. For over three years, the Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD) has been working on a plan, but getting eight cities to agree on all the details is difficult and time-consuming.
WCWCD has developed a drought model, prepared a draft drought contingency plan, and surveyed stakeholders to assess potential action steps. Yet, we still don’t have a finalized plan.
Ivins Has a Drought Plan… But We Can’t Use It
Ivins adopted a drought contingency plan in 2004. It was designed to impose water-use restrictions whenever St. George declared a drought, and additional restrictions as the drought stage intensified. However, St. George stopped making those declarations years ago, rendering our plan ineffective.
Scott Taylor, St. George’s Water Services Director, explained that their plan, adopted in 2001, worked when St. George controlled 100% of its culinary water supply. Their system compared available supply with daily demand, triggering different drought stages based on how close usage came to capacity.
But things have changed. Cities across the county now rely on WCWCD’s interconnected regional water supply, making St. George’s drought model unworkable. As a result, Taylor emphasizes that a countywide drought contingency plan is critical.
Unresolved Issues
In 2021, WCWCD began working with cities to create a regional drought plan. A draft plan was presented in early 2023, but progress has stalled due to unresolved issues.
The sticking points?
- Enforcement mechanisms: Who enforces restrictions, and how will staff and resources be allocated?
- Drought water rates: How should they be structured, and how do cities manage potential revenue shortfalls?
- Drought-stage restrictions: At what point should restrictions on new development be implemented?
To address these concerns, WCWCD conducted a Stakeholder Consensus Survey for Drought Planning. Doug Bennett, WCWCD’s Conservation Manager, presented the results of the survey at a Growing Water Smart conference two weeks ago. Among other things, the survey asked what restrictions should apply at each drought stage. While there was broad agreement on some measures, others remain contentious.
The Stakes for Our Community
Despite the complexities, the need for a drought contingency plan cannot be overstated. Building consensus takes time, but the urgency of our current situation demands action. The absence of a finalized plan leaves a glaring hole in Washington County’s water management strategy.
The reason consensus is so important is that an effective drought contingency plan needs to work the same in every city WCWCD serves. Some stakeholders want every regulatory measure left to the discretion of their own leadership. A unified approach not only makes communication more effective, but it also eliminates the likelihood of people rationalizing inaction because “the guy on the next block doesn’t have to do that.”
Zach Renstrom, WCWCDs General Manager explains the need for a unified approach better, saying, “We are wholly reliant on the Virgin River basin. The region’s cities are essentially eight straws drinking from the same glass. A unified approach allows us to act more swiftly in emergency conditions and also be assured everyone is doing their part.”
Dipping Into Reserves
Yes, our reservoirs have enough water to sustain us through this dry year. But relying on those reserves without a plan to curb usage is shortsighted and risky.
As Utah’s Hazard Mitigation Plan shows, multi-year droughts are not hypothetical, they are a reality we must prepare for. If we’re going to dip into our “savings” account (our reservoirs), we should do so responsibly, not just hoping for more rain, but tightening our belts accordingly.
Drought planning is complex because it involves balancing the needs of cities, residents, landowners, and developers. Every decision has legal and economic consequences. But complexity is no excuse for inaction. The longer we delay, the more we jeopardize our ability to respond effectively when drought conditions worsen.
Faith and Preparation Must Go Hand in Hand
Faith is a deeply held value in our community, but it must be paired with preparation and responsible stewardship. Historically, people have prayed and fasted for rain in times of drought. But faith works best when combined with action. Just as we plant crops in anticipation of the harvest, we must also “plant” sound policies to secure our water future. Planning ahead is not a lack of faith, it is an expression of it.
As Utah’s drought monitoring website states, “In Utah, we are either in drought or preparing for the next one, so we always need to use our water wisely.” The time for preparation is now. Let’s not wait until it’s too late.
Next Step: Make Your Voice Count
WCWCD is sending the Stakeholder Consensus Survey for Drought Planning to all city council members in the county on February 3rd. The name of that survey is quite a mouthful, and pretty boring. WCWCD should have called the survey the “Planning & Assessment for Resilient Communities in a Hydrologically Extreme Drought” or PARCHED. Or maybe RAINDROP for “Regional Assessment & Input on Necessary Drought Response & Overall Preparedness.”
Joking aside, now is the time to make sure your city council understands how important it is to finalize a drought contingency plan. Every council member in the county needs to hear directly from residents.
The goal isn’t just talk; it’s action. A strong, practical plan requires commitment from all cities, agencies, and stakeholders. That starts with residents communicating directly with their elected officials.
Social media discussions can be lively, but real impact happens when you reach out to your mayor and city council members. If you want your voice to truly make a difference, take a moment to send them an email. Here’s how to contact your Ivins mayor and council: chart@ivinsutah.gov, ksmith@ivinsutah.gov, sbarton@ivinsutah.gov, sgillespie@ivinsutah.gov, landerson@ivinsutah.gov, mscott@ivinsutah.gov.
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