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ST. GEORGE — What could Washington County look like if the Lake Powell Pipeline project fails to be built?
It's a question St. George News started asking local officials nearly four years ago. Since then the drought has increasingly worsened and Lake Powell's water level has dipped to record lows.
Much has happened involving Lake Powell since 2018. In addition to the drought worsening, the pipeline project has seen the federal permitting process advance and then pause as neighboring states that share the Colorado River voiced their concerns. The Bureau of Reclamation also announced the first-ever shortage on the river, which since has resulted in water cuts to some of the Lower Colorado Basin states.
"The first thing is the community will have to make some tough choices," said Brock Belnap, an associate general manager at the Washington County Water Conservancy District, in relation to the county having less water.
"If we only have the Virgin River Basin as our source of water, then our growing community will have to learn to do more within its existing supply because as more people come in, you'll have to slice the pie (of available water) smaller," Belnap added. "That will require us to make some decisions as to what we want to look like as a community."
Any major decision regarding water use and policy would have be made by state, county and municipal governments as the water district does not have that authority, he said. The water district primary's job is to provide water and secure new sources of water for the county and will adapt to the needs of the county as appropriate.
