The Bureau of Reclamation's Provo Area Office manages a vast network of water projects across Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming. Located on the southern end of Provo, the office oversees 17 separate water projects that provide essential resources to the region.
The Provo Area Office is responsible for a wide array of infrastructure, including 27 major and 34 minor dams, approximately 419 miles of canals, 613 miles of laterals, 57 miles of tunnels, 132 miles of pipelines, six powerplants, and 14 pumping stations. Additionally, the office oversees 1,063,666 acres of acquired fee title, withdrawn, and easement lands.
These managed projects provide irrigation water to more than 400,000 acres of cropland annually. They also supply culinary water to nearly 1,500,000 people. Beyond water supply, the projects offer flood control, power generation, and over two million visitor days of recreation each year. The office also manages 50 miles of class 1 stream fisheries, which represents 75 percent of the total in the state of Utah.
In recent developments, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Land Management have issued a draft Environmental Assessment for the Washington County Water Conservancy District’s proposed Central Reuse System. A public comment period for this assessment began on July 30, 2026, and is scheduled to end on August 28, 2026.
Additionally, the Provo Area Office completed a National Environmental Policy Act review for the Annabella Irrigation Company Phase II Canal Piping Project. This project aims to pipe approximately 10,900 feet of the Annabella Canal to reduce annual seepage loss. The improvements are supported in part by the WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grant Program.
In a separate initiative to address Utah County's growth, federal, state, and local water leaders signed the Strawberry Valley Project 1920 Act Conversion Contract at the Provo Area Office. This agreement allows for the conversion of irrigation water from Strawberry Reservoir for municipal and industrial use, including drinking water.
