Water shapes where people live, how communities grow, and what the future looks like. From pioneer irrigation ditches to modern reservoirs, each generation has had to answer the same difficult question: how do we grow responsibly in one of the driest states in the nation?

Drive through Heber Valley or around Jordanelle Reservoir and the transformation is impossible to miss. Projects such as Jordanelle Ridge, Mayflower Mountain Resort, Deer Valley East Village, and the Mirabel area promise thousands of new homes, hotels, businesses, and recreational amenities over the coming decade.

At the same time, Utah’s snowpack has reached historic lows. The 2026 water year began with alarming numbers. Snowpack across the state peaked weeks early and at roughly half of normal levels. Naturally, emotions run high when water and development are discussed together. If Utah hopes to build a sustainable future, the conversation must move beyond fear, slogans, and political talking points. Water policy deserves thoughtful analysis rooted in science, planning, economics, and long-term statewide strategy.

Learning to Integrate Water and Growth

For decades, land-use planning and water planning often operated separately. The result was reactive growth rather than coordinated growth.

The Utah Division of Water Resources has openly acknowledged this challenge through its “Integration of Water and Land Use Planning” initiative, which recognizes that development decisions and water decisions cannot be separated. State guidance now emphasizes that integrating the two from the beginning is far less expensive than retrofitting poorly planned growth later.

Recent legislation reflects this shift. HB 110 and SB 76¹ now require municipalities and counties across Utah to adopt integrated water-use and preservation elements into their general plans. Communities must evaluate how future development affects water supply, infrastructure, groundwater, conservation goals, and long-term resiliency.

This represents a major philosophical change. Rather than treating water as an afterthought, Utah is beginning to treat it as a foundational planning tool. That matters enormously for fast-growing counties like here in Wasatch County, where population projections continue rising. Growth itself is not inherently bad. The challenge is not whether growth happens. The challenge is whether growth happens intelligently.

A Misunderstood Water Rights Debate

Much of Utah’s water debate centers around one of the oldest western water laws: use it or lose it.

Under Utah Code Section 73-1-4², water rights can be forfeited after seven consecutive years of non-use. Historically, this doctrine prevented speculators from hoarding water they were not actively using. In the early West, when water was tied directly to agriculture, mining, and settlement, the policy made practical sense. But Utah in 2026 is not Utah in 1906.

Today, residents are encouraged to conserve water during drought years while some water-right holders worry that significantly reducing usage could weaken future claims or long-term allocations. Although modern reforms offer some protections through non-use applications and water banking, the broader system still reflects assumptions from another era.

This creates a contradiction. Citizens are asked to remove turf and limit outdoor watering while development continues expanding. Many residents understandably question whether, if Utah has enough water for resort developments, recreational facilities, new businesses, thousands of additional homes, and now data centers, there should also be enough water for farmers to irrigate crops, ranchers to care for livestock, and homeowners to responsibly maintain lawns, gardens, trees, and flower beds.

Conservation during legitimate drought years is wise stewardship, but fear-driven messaging that portrays ordinary residents as the primary problem can oversimplify a far more complex statewide issue. That tension has fueled growing skepticism toward drought campaigns, with some residents wondering whether conservation efforts are sometimes used less for stewardship and more to free water capacity for future growth.

Whether or not that perception is entirely accurate, public trust and transparency matter. Conservation remains essential in an arid state, but the system should reward conservation rather than discourage it. Until broader reforms are made to Utah’s “use it or lose it” structure, water-right holders should continue using their legally allocated water to protect long-standing rights while still practicing reasonable efficiency where possible.

One of the most important lessons emerging from Utah’s current water debate is that water cannot realistically be managed solely at the city or county level. Watersheds do not care about municipal borders. Snowmelt from the Wasatch Range feeds reservoirs, aquifers, rivers, farms, recreation systems, ecosystems, and downstream communities across enormous geographic areas. Decisions made in one county inevitably affect another.

That is why Utah increasingly needs statewide coordination rather than fragmented local battles. A city approving development may focus on economic opportunity and housing demand. Agricultural users may focus on irrigation reliability. Environmental groups may prioritize stream health or the health of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. All are legitimate concerns. But without broader statewide integration, competing interests can easily work against one another. The Utah Division of Water Resources has already recognized this challenge through initiatives like the “Growing Water Smart” workshops³, which bring planners, water managers, and policymakers together to coordinate future development around water realities.

Treating water as a statewide issue rather than a collection of isolated local disputes may ultimately become Utah’s most important policy shift of the next decade.

Growth is Coming Either Way

One reality often missing from water debates is that growth is coming either way.

Wasatch County cannot simply freeze itself in time. Its proximity to Park City, Salt Lake City, outdoor recreation, and expanding resort economies makes continued development almost inevitable. Ignoring this reality does not stop growth. It simply reduces the opportunity to shape it responsibly. That is why zoning and infrastructure planning matter so deeply.

The question is not whether Utah can grow. The question is whether Utah chooses to grow wisely. Utah has already begun modernizing portions of its water system. Recent legislation protecting water banking, encouraging conservation, improving accountability, and funding Great Salt Lake preservation shows the state is capable of adapting. But more work remains ahead.

The “use it or lose it” doctrine deserves continued reform so both water use and conservation are fully incentivized rather than psychologically discouraged. Water-right holders should feel confident that wise stewardship strengthens—not threatens—their long-term standing. Public communication around drought also deserves nuance and honesty. Residents are capable of understanding that Utah can simultaneously face real drought challenges while planning for future growth. These realities are not mutually exclusive. Most importantly, Utah needs statewide conversations that rise above fear and polarization.

The future of the Wasatch Back will not be decided by a single development, a single reservoir level, or a single drought year. It will be shaped by decades of coordinated planning, transparent policymaking, technological innovation, and public engagement.

Water is not merely a county issue, a city issue, or a political issue. It is Utah’s issue.

Every resident—whether farmer, developer, homeowner, conservationist, skier, rancher, or business owner—has a stake in how the state manages its most precious resource. That means staying informed, engaging with local planning efforts, and thinking beyond neighborhood boundaries toward statewide solutions. Because ultimately, Utah’s water future will not depend on fear. It will depend on cooperation, transparency, innovation, and long-term vision.

WRITTEN BY
MARK AVERY & LORALIE PEARCE

You don’t have to tear up your entire landscape to make your yard more water wise — though some people might enjoy that challenge. There are small and simple steps you can take to make your landscape more drought-friendly: water less, check your irrigation systems, add mulch, plant adapted plants, use less lawn, and check out local rebate programs.

Water Less

Many people water much more than their plants need. Liz Braithwaite, a garden designer, says that during the summer, it’s normal for plants to wilt in the heat of the day and for some lawns to go brown. A brown lawn doesn’t always mean the grass is dead. Cool-season turf can go dormant in the heat, but it will green and continue growing later in the fall.

Maegen Lewis, from the USU Extension Office in Heber, stated that Heber Valley has predominately clay soil, which is hard for water to penetrate. Watering less often, but for longer periods of time, is best. Deep watering less often is better for plants than frequent shallow watering; the plants will get deeper roots and will need less water overall.

Pressing a long screwdriver or metal rod that is at least 12 inches long into the soil is an easy way to tell how much water penetrates the ground. The probe will pass easily through wet soil, but it will stop when it hits dry soil. If you monitor your soil after irrigation, you can make sure you are irrigating enough. You can also use a soil probe after a rainstorm to see how much water your landscape received and then adjust your automatic system accordingly.

Adjust Your Automatic Systems

Approximately two-thirds of drinking water in Utah is used to water landscapes, and much of the water is being applied inefficiently. Lewis says that at the Heber Extension Office, homeowners can rent water catch cups to measure how much they are irrigating. Placing catch cups or cans in a grid system can help you make sure your irrigation system is watering uniformly.

You can also inspect your irrigation system for any problems such as broken heads or inadequate or excessive water pressure. After inspection, you can make necessary changes such as adjusting sprinkler heads and changing automatic clocks.

A drip system uses less water than overhead irrigation. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the plants that need it and reduces water waste. It also helps prevent weeds, reduces disease, and saves time and money. A drip system also needs regular maintenance.

Hand irrigation can also help reduce water usage in the right situation, such as when establishing new plants or when watering potted flowers. Many water wise plants only need irrigation on occasion, so hand watering can be more efficient.

The Utah Legislature recently allocated $50 million for pressurized secondary irrigation providers to install water meters on existing systems by 2030. Installing meters is estimated to reduce water usage by around 30%. Heber is in the process of implementing a secondary water meter installation. Measuring pressurized secondary irrigation allows homeowners to see how much water they are using so that they can learn how to better conserve.

Add Mulch

Braithwaite says that adding mulch results in plants needing less water. Mulch can keep plants cooler, minimize evaporation and reduce weeds. Organic mulches, usually wood chips, should be 2 to 6 inches deep. On a vegetable garden, clean straw and compost are good mulch materials. Organic mulches can decompose and improve soil quality. You can also use rocks and gravel, but when used in sunny areas, they tend to retain heat. And avoid black plastic, as it does not allow air, nutrients, or moisture to get to plant roots.

Chose Adapted Plants

A water wise landscape does not need to be filled with rocks or cacti. Lewis says that a water wise garden can be lush and very beautiful. There are many trees, shrubs and perennials that grow in our environment with little water that bring beautiful colors and textures into your landscape. Some adapted plants are native to Utah, but others come from other regions that also grow well in our dry climate.

If you do choose to plant and establish water wise plants, make sure that you don’t give more water than what they need.

Establish Hydrozones

When you design your landscape, establish hydrozones. Different areas in your yard have different light, soil, wind, and water conditions. Grouping plants that have similar needs together allows you to customize irrigation so that every plant gets just enough water. You can place plants that need higher water near water sources, downspouts or in cooler areas.

Reduce Lawn

Lawn can take up a lot of water, so reducing lawn is an important step to making your landscape more water wise. But lawn can still be a part of a water wise landscape if it is only used where it is functional. Lawn may be needed for high-traffic areas, play areas or sports fields. If you are never walking on your grass, chances are it could be replaced by something else.

Some lawn varieties can grow with less water. For example, tall fescue stays greener than the traditional Kentucky bluegrass. Wheatgrasses can also be used for a low maintenance lawn without much mowing or irrigation.

Mowing your lawn at a higher setting can also reduce the amount of water your lawn needs.

Participate in Flip your Strip or Localscapes Rewards

As part of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, homeowners in the Heber Valley are eligible to participate in the Flip Your Strip and Localscapes Rewards programs. To get started, visit utahwatersavers.com, where you can create an account and enter your information and water bill.

The Flip Your Strip program is limited to the park strip, or the grass between the curb and the sidewalk. Zack Seipert from the CUWCD says that’s a great place to start your landscape change, as you can still see water savings in that small area. The rebate incentive is tied to the amount of grass you are removing and replacing with a water wise landscape. The rebate is $1.00 per square foot of grass removed, or, if you complete an optional free online education class, you can get $1.25 a square foot. The class teaches you how to make your park strip water wise and eligible for the rebate. Once your application is approved, you must complete the Flip Your Strip program in six months.

The Localscapes Rewards program offers rebates for larger landscape projects, such as your front or backyard. The incentive amount is related to the water savings, and you must take an education class from Localscapes to be eligible for the program. The classes teach you how to create a water wise landscape plan and put it into practice in your own yard. Once you create and submit a plan, your landscape is drawn to a scale that meets the Localscapes requirements, and you can get a rebate estimate. Localscapes Rewards allows you to complete your landscape in 12 months. Once completed, you upload photos and schedule a landscape review. After passing the review, you get a cash reward. If you participate in the Localscapes Rewards, you are not eligible to participate in Flip Your Strip.

The CUWCD also offers a rebate for using a smart irrigation controller.

Keep on learning

There are many helpful websites to help you conserve water and some are found below. You can also visit demonstration gardens such as Red Butte or the Jordan Valley Water Conservation Garden. And the best learning is in your own garden. Not everything you plant will grow, but you can continue to learn as you observe what dies and what thrives in your own yard.

Localscapes at localscapes.com

Conserve Water at conservewater.utah.gov

Utah State University Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping at extension.usu.edu/cwel

Slow the Flow at slowtheflow.org

Utah Water Savers at utahwatersavers.com

Combinations for Conservation Book, found at usuextensionstore.com/combinations-for-conservation/

Deer Resistant and Water Wise Plants