Utah Farm Bureau leaders and water experts recently gathered for the Utah Farm Bureau Federation's latest Water Academy. Utah Farm Bureau President ValJay Rigby kicked off the day with a welcome and a call for Farm Bureau members to educate themselves on water-related topics and to actively participate in Watershed Councils and other organizations that provide advice to the State of Utah on water. He also underscored the Farm Bureau's commitment to finding innovative solutions to ensure the sustainability of farming in the face of water scarcity and changing environmental conditions. 

The morning session began with Michael Drake, Deputy State Engineer from the Utah Division of Water Rights, who delved into the history and current state of water rights change applications. Drake's presentation revealed that the practice of change applications dates back to 1909, with recent years seeing a steady increase in the number and complexity of filings. He emphasized the importance of these applications being subject to non-impairment of existing rights and approval by the state engineer.

A highlight of Drake's presentation was the discussion about “saved water”, referring to water conserved through agricultural optimization projects. This new process, added to Utah's water management toolkit in 2023, allows farmers to quantify and use saved water separately from their underlying water rights, opening up new voluntary options for water conservation and use. 

Following Drake, Dr. Matt Yost and Dr. Burdette Barker from Utah State University presented on new irrigation system water savings calculators and the Ag-DRIP program, providing farmers with tools to optimize their water use. One of the new calculators aids farmers in estimating water savings from the conversion of irrigation methods and the other provides a cost/benefit analysis of various irrigation technologies. You can check out these calculators by clicking here and here.  

Tim Davis, Great Salt Lake Deputy Commissioner, spoke to the group about the implementation of the Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan. Davis outlined efforts to work with farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders to address the lake's declining water levels. He also highlighted recent initiatives, including phragmites removal and recent voluntary agreements with the Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, and Compass Minerals to manage water levels.

Bart Leeflang, Assistant General Manager at the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, talks about the Colorado River.

After lunch, Bart Leeflang, Assistant General Manager at the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, provided an update on the Colorado River and ongoing negotiations and introduced a recently completed Agricultural Water Resiliency Study. This study aims to explore ways for farmers to optimize water use while maintaining crop yields, especially during dry periods. Leeflang's presentation underscored the need for innovative, voluntary, and collaborative approaches to water management in the face of changing climate conditions. 

Hannah Freeze, Agricultural Water Optimization Program Manager at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, spoke next and shared updates on the program’s implementation. Freeze announced that the next application period for the program would run from January 1 to February 28, 2025, with $30 million in funding available. She detailed changes to the program, including revised ranking questions and new eligibility criteria, all aimed at improving water conservation efforts across the state. 

The day concluded with Warren Peterson, Water Policy Advisor, and Terry Camp, VP of Public Policy for the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, discussing the organization's efforts to monitor and participate in water law and policy. They provided a preview of upcoming legislation, rulemaking, and studies related to water management. 

Attendees at Monday’s Water Academy event left with a wealth of new information and strategies to tackle water challenges. Attendees asked important questions about the role and management of irrigation companies and about other water savings topics. The Utah Farm Bureau Federation plans to host another Water Academy event in the spring following the 2025 General Session of the Utah Legislature.