Council staff preview proposed Chapter 14 to link land use and water conservation; public utilities urge continued regional coordination

Planning staff and public utilities briefed the council on a proposed amendment to Plan Salt Lake that would add a new Chapter 14 to integrate the city’s general plan with the state’s 2022 water conservation and land use requirements.

“This is a proposed amendment to Plan Salt Lake that would integrate the city's land use plans and the 2022 water conservation and land use planning plan,” a planning presenter said, explaining the state requires a water element to be included by the end of the calendar year.

Laura Briefer and public utilities staff described six state‑required components: (1) regular updates to water supply and demand plans (recommended every five years or after significant events), (2) methods to reduce per‑capita consumption (including standardizing future land use designations and identifying high‑use land uses), (3) city operations water‑use reductions (parks, irrigation), (4) alignment with regional conservation goals, (5) incorporation of the city’s existing conservation plan, and (6) sustainable landscaping policies.

Public utilities staff noted Salt Lake already meets some state goals and reported that the city’s water supply and demand plan projects population and water use under multiple scenarios. The presenters said they are updating the water conservation plan (live this fall) and will continue outreach on Shape SLC, with a separate briefing on the conservation plan scheduled for the council next week.

Council members asked about specific measures such as smart irrigation controllers, industrial water‑use caps and whether the plan will set an explicit goal for water returned to the Great Salt Lake. Staff said a quantitative Great Salt Lake goal has not been adopted yet and that measurement/accounting remains complex; they committed to working with basin partners and the State Department of Natural Resources on strategy.

What’s next: staff recommended adoption of the chapter amendment to comply with state statute and said additional implementation details will be developed in the water conservation plan and the long‑range supply and demand process.