The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service is seeking public comment on a proposed 6,000-acre-foot reservoir in Kane County that would serve water users in both Kane and Washington counties, officials announced in mid-September 2026.
Proposed Reservoir Infrastructure
The proposed Cove-East Fork Virgin River Watershed Project involves the construction of an off-stream reservoir southwest of Orderville. The preferred design features an earthen dam approximately 1,900 feet long and 90 feet high. According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the project would also include spillways, pipelines, a booster pump station, access roads, and a recreation area.
Water Distribution and Benefits
Water from the reservoir would be released downstream through the East Fork Virgin River for agricultural, municipal, and industrial uses in Washington County. Karry Rathje, the Washington County Water Conservancy District's public affairs manager, stated that the reservoir would provide increased water security, drought protection, and economic stability for the growing desert community. At least 500 acre-feet of water from the project would be sent to the Hurricane Valley Irrigation District for farmland use, Rathje said.
Project Funding and Costs
The project is estimated to cost approximately $39.7 million. This total includes roughly $24.9 million in federal funding and $14.8 million from nonfederal sources. Funding is provided through authority of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, and the Utah Legislature provided $9 million toward the project in 2024.
History of Public Opposition
The project has faced previous opposition. During an earlier environmental assessment in 2020, Thomas Butine, then-board president of Conserve Southwest Utah, argued that the plan lacked crucial information and left many questions unanswered. Additionally, the Utah Rivers Council previously raised concerns that county water managers were not being transparent regarding whether the water would be used for municipal or agricultural purposes.
Public Participation Details
The public comment period for the draft environmental impact statement remains open until Nov. 2, 2026. A public meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the Old Rock Church Events Center, located at 2615 S. State St. in Mt. Carmel. Comments may be submitted via email to CoveEFVR@usda.gov or mailed to Ammon Boswell, the NRCS watershed program manager, in Tremonton.
