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ECHO, Summit County — Severe drought conditions continue across Utah, but people in parts of Summit County say they're being hit especially hard.
A boat ramp was closed because of low water levels, and officials in the town of Echo say that, though they're not completely dry yet, their water supply has reached a critically low level.
Kory Staples with Echo Mutual Water Company said their water supplies have dropped so low, they're working on a "limited supply" basis. They're pleading with people to cut water use anywhere they can, knowing that the company won't be able to sustain the kind of water use it's seeing.
"Your outside watering, try to keep it limited. Try not to water livestock," Staples said.
Echo asks for water help
Things have gotten so bad, Staples said they're asking other towns to send shipments of water by fire trucks. They're currently speaking with the Utah Division of Water Resources to help them fill their storage units.
The city of Henefer has stepped up to help.
"We're seeing what we can work out and seeing what they can let us have," Staples said. "Even a load or two a day, if they can do that, is probably going to help maintain it, a little bit, for us."
The town of Echo receives its water from six different streams. It is not connected to the Echo Reservoir, which is already seeing a dramatic decline in water levels. Officials said the reservoir was at 46% capacity two months ago, but levels have taken a big drop since then.
"The current level for Echo (Reservoir) that I have for Echo State Park is at 30%," said Utah State Parks spokesman Devan Chavez.
Ramp closed ahead of original plan to do so
Park officials had to close their boat ramp one month ahead of a scheduled closing. Their original plan was to close the ramp in August for a major construction project. However, Chavez said that right now there's a big drop between the end of the ramp and the water.
"If you did try to launch a vessel from that ramp, your axles are going to get damaged, high-centered and you may need to be towed out," Chavez said. "So, that ramp is closed."
Chavez said ramp closures are becoming more common across Utah. He recommended checking the state's boat ramp conditions website before hitting the road with a boat in tow.
