Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Utah Water Laws Discourage Conservation on Farms

Charlie Black's farm in Syracuse, Utah
Black Island Farms
Charlie Black's farm in Syracuse, Utah

By Dan Bammes

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kuer/local-kuer-638260.mp3

Salt Lake City, UT – While residents of Utah's urban areas are constantly reminded to "Slow the Flow" and conserve water, many of Utah's farmers are finding few reasons to change their water-using habits. Those who are conserving do it to increase crop yields, minimize labor costs or for reasons other than public policy. As KUER's Dan Bammes reports, there's just not much incentive under current law to encourage them to use less.

Read attorney Steven Clyde's white paper on agricultural water conservation under Utah's current water law in .doc format.

KUER is listener-supported public radio. Support this work by making a donation today.