1. Surveying principles 1 Tooele Valley Groundwater Change Application Guidelines S. Ross Hansen P.E., L.S. Region Engineer 9/7/2011 Tooele Water Users Workshop

2. Surveying principles 2 Overview History of the Groundwater Change App. Policy. What is the Tooele Valley Groundwater Change Application Policy. Conceptual Future Groundwater Flow. Future Change App. Administration.

3. Surveying principles 3 Vocabulary Acre-foot - An acre of land 1’ deep water CFS - Cubic Feet per Second G.W. – Groundwater POD – Point of Diversion S.E. – State Engineer State Engineer’s Office a.k.a. Division of Water Rights UGS - Utah Geological Survey USGS – United States Geological Survey

4. Surveying principles 4 Tooele Map

5. Surveying principles 5 History of the Groundwater Change Policy In 2007 we were inundated with cross valley change application filings Meeting were held on: –August 28, 2007 S.E. expressed concern that moving multiple paper rights to the East side of the valley could cause future interference issues.August 28, 2007 –April 24, 2008 to propose a change application policy be implementedApril 24, 2008 Comments were submitted pursuant to the meeting –July 22, 2008 to implement the policy.July 22, 2008 Effective date of policy April 16, 2008

6. Surveying principles 6 Understanding the Tooele Valley Groundwater Change Application Policy How it was derived Policy summary What it does What it doesn’t

7. Surveying principles 7 Hydrologic Connection Recharge / Discharge

8. Surveying principles 8 Water Right Distribution Recharge: 15,226 Permitted Use: 7,970 Difference: 7,257 Percent under: 48% Recharge: 43,160 Permitted Use: 48,595 Difference: -5,435 Percent over: 13% Recharge: 16,910 Permitted Use: 27,404 Difference: -10,494 Percent over: 62% Total Recharge: 75,297 Total Permitted Use: 83,969 Total Difference: -8,672 Percent over: 12%

9. Surveying principles 9 Tooele Valley Groundwater Change Application Policy Policy Summary –Can’t Cross Into Eastern Zone –Buffer 3 Miles East Perpendicular to Flow Path Change App. Specifics –Multiple Water Rights Each Water Right Will Be Evaluated Individually Most Restrictive Water Right Will Govern –Multiple Points of Diversion Based On Eastern Most Well –Applications Will Still Be Considered On Their Own Merit

10. Surveying principles 10 Map graphically showing 3 mile buffer and East zone 3 mile

11. Surveying principles 11 Understanding the Tooele Valley Groundwater Change Application Policy What the policy does: Creates some semblance of order and certainty –Allows WR holders to predict outcome before filing –Allows the S.E. to make more timely decisions on change application Protects the East side from further over- appropriation –Stops future interference issues

12. Surveying principles 12 Understanding the Tooele Valley Groundwater Change Application Policy What the policy does not: It does not “divide” the valley into 3 sections –The SE continues to administer the valley as one hydrologic system It is not the “end all” answer when considering change applications –Each application is considered on its own merits

13. Surveying principles 13 Water Right Distribution Recharge: 15,226 Permitted Use: 7,970 Difference: 7,257 Percent under: 48% Recharge: 43,160 Permitted Use: 48,595 Difference: -5,435 Percent over: 13% Recharge: 16,910 Permitted Use: 27,404 Difference: -10,494 Percent over: 62% Total Recharge: 75,297 Total Permitted Use: 83,969 Total Difference: -8,672 Percent over: 12%

14. Surveying principles 14 Hydrologic Connection Future conceptual drawing

15. Surveying principles 15 Future of Change Application Administration Continue to administer and make decisions based on current policy If data is brought before us we will consider it and incorporate if need be

16. Surveying principles 16 Where to Get More Policy Info. Water Rights web site –http://waterrights.utah.gov/http://waterrights.utah.gov/

17. Surveying principles 17 QUESTIONS?? Thank you