The Upper Price River Watershed Project, funded through USDA-NRCS’s PL83-566 program, is needed to examine methods that will provide a more reliable water supply to water users and to conserve water in the watershed. Project benefits include improving the efficiency, resiliency, and reliability of water systems to provide greater capacity for and flexibility in accommodating the needs of multiple uses, including municipal, industrial, agricultural, and environmental.
     Price City, as the local sponsoring organization for the project, and the study team are making progress with the planning phase to evaluate the proposed project measures and preparing a draft Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Plan-EIS). The study team is comprised of engineering and environmental professionals from Horrocks Engineers, Johansen & Tuttle Engineering Inc, and RB&G Engineering. A modification was recently approved by NRCS to include the piping of approximately 50 miles of open irrigation canals/laterals in order to provide safe and reliable water for agricultural users, enable increased efficiency in water use, and meet water conservation objectives. These canals include the Gay Ditch, Price-Wellington Canal, and Carbon Canal systems. Proposed project measures being evaluated include:

• Proposed diversion structure on Price River near the existing Bryner-Ploutz diversion upstream of Gigliotti Pond
• Proposed large diameter pipeline (60-72”) from diversion location to a proposed reservoir
• Proposed reservoir: Two locations being evaluated - Garley Canyon and Consumers Wash (3 alignment options)
• Proposed piping of Gay Ditch, Carbon Canal, and Price-Wellington Canal irrigation systems (pressurized)

It is anticipated that a Draft Plan-EIS will be available for public review during the winter of 2023/2024.