Iron County approves disposal of parcel tied to Parowan land swap to enable aquifer recharge

Iron County commissioners voted to approve the disposal of a specific county parcel (APN a-20-3-1) on terms tied to a broader land exchange with Parowan City intended to support aquifer recharge and preserve landfill operations.

At a public hearing, county staff said the exchange would transfer the landfill parcel currently used by the city to Iron County while the county would deed a gravel pit parcel to Parowan City that the city intends to use for high-water aquifer recharge. No money will change hands under the draft agreement; both parties would be left holding the parcels they “beneficially use,” county staff said.

County staff and the city’s representative outlined several steps before final conveyance: updated surveys, carving off and dedicating a public road on the east side of the parcel, and recorded easements providing access to a nearby antenna hill and utility infrastructure. The county acknowledged it would likely bear some costs for survey and easement recording.

Commissioners highlighted operational benefits of the swap. One commissioner noted that continued shared access to gravel and riprap resources benefits local projects and that maintaining the landfill under county control preserves a long-term regional asset. County staff said the gravel pit’s deeper excavation could increase recharge capacity when water is available.

A motion to dispose of the parcel was made with caveats addressing the road dedication and the county’s retained right to remove material at no charge. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Next steps include finalizing legal language, recording required easements and surveys and returning a finalized agreement to the commission and Parowan City Council for formal conveyance. Staff emphasized the exchange remains contingent on those recorded technical details and easement clarifications.