Committee to press county and state for protections tied to Castle Valley sole-source aquifer

Robert O’Brien (OB) told the committee he is pursuing Castle Valley’s inclusion in the county’s Water Source Protection Overlay District and urged the town to back that outreach to the county. OB said the overlay protects water-supplier zones and that expanding coverage to include the town’s sole-source aquifer would add safeguards for both water quantity and quality.

Committee members discussed county planning constraints and staffing challenges that have delayed land-use code work, but they agreed the committee should offer support. OB proposed drafting a letter and running it quietly past Division of Water Rights staff before public release; several members supported that timing.

John Grewe and other members also discussed recommendations from the state engineer and Utah Geological Survey (UGS): the town could pursue policy language to limit future appropriations basin-wide (outside the town) and use the UGS water-budget results as technical justification. Dave (committee member) agreed to research Willow Basin precedent language and work with OB to draft a proposal to be circulated to state engineers for initial review.

Members emphasized the need to coordinate with county and neighboring municipal officials; OB said he would try to secure a simultaneous letter of support from Moab City if possible. The committee agreed to make watershed protection an ongoing priority and to report progress to the town council.