Canal Safety Program and Canal Inventory

Revised: December 12, 2014

In 2014 the Utah Legislature passed House Bill 370 directing the Division of Water Rights to create and maintain an inventory of all canals in the state by July 1, 2017. The following attributes of all open flow conveyances with a minimum design capacity of 5 CFS are to be captured:

• Canal alignment
• Contact information for the canal owner
• Maximum flow capacity
• Is the canal used for flood or stormwater management
• Date of adoption of a safety management plan, if one has been completed

In 2017 the Utah Legislature passed House Bill 301 expanding the inventory to include all enclosed segments of each, open human-made water conveyance system in first or second class counties. This is to be completed by July 1, 2018.

HB 370 also made funding available to assist canal owners and irrigation companies develop a safety management plan as described in Utah Code Section 73-10-33 for their systems.

The following documents are available related to the canal inventory and management plan process:

• Company Information Form for describing company contact and water conveyance information to the Division
• Letter providing Notice of Funding Availibility for implementation of a safety management plan
• Sample Funding Proposal Letter to be completed by the canal company in coordination with their local conservancy district.
• Certification of Compliance form prepared upon completion of a safety management plan. Submit to the Division of Water Resources