Other CUPCA Programs

The Central Utah Project Completion Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-575) authorized a number of changes to the Central Utah Project plans and features and added significant new direction for the project. The most significant of these new CUPCA provisions are:

Conjunctive Use of Surface Water and Groundwater (CUPCA Section 202(a)2)
Conjunctive use of surface and ground water resources typically involves capturing high spring surface runoff and delivering it to groundwater basins by means of seepage ponds and/or injection wells. Early spring flows, that cannot be effectively used, are stored underground in existing groundwater basins for later extraction. This component authorizes of the planning, development and funding of local systems to allow conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater in Salt Lake, Utah, Davis Wasatch, and Weber Counties, Utah. CUPCA authorized the Utah Division of Water Resources to conduct this program, building upon studies and demonstration projects that have been undertaken by local and federal entities.

Wasatch County Water Efficiency Project (CUPCA Section 202(a)3)
Within two years of the enactment of CUPCA a feasibility study of water use efficiency improvements for the management, treatment and delivery of water in Wasatch County, Utah, is to be completed. These studies were completed in 1996 resulting in construction of the Wasatch County Water Efficiency Project (WCWEP), a new component of the Bonneville of the CUP, in 1998.

Utah Lake Salinity Control (CUPCA Section 202(a)4)
Naturally occurring saline groundwater, originating from underlying geologic and groundwater sources, creates highly saline water in Utah Lake. The potential for reducing the salinity of Utah Lake water is to be investigated in order to ascertain the feasibility of producing economical drinking water from Utah's largest body of fresh water. 
Provo River Studies (CUPCA Section 202(a)5)
A hydrologic study was completed of the Provo River basin  including: a) development of a hydrologic model of the Provo River basin with all its tributaries, diversions, imports and exports, and water rights; and 2) the feasibility of direct deliver of Colorado River Basin water from Strawberry Reservoir by means of tunnels or other means. The hydrologic modeling of the river resulted in the water model "PROSIM" which was developed and operated by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. Studies of direct delivery of Colorado River basin water have led, indirectly, to the concepts embodied in the Utah Lake Distribution System, which will complete the water development features of the Central Utah Project.

Uinta Basin Replacement Project (CUPCA Section 203)
In lieu of construction of the Uinta and Upalco Units, which have been deauthorized, the CUP is to explore feasible alternate means to develop irrigation and M&I water in the Uinta Basin of Utah. Such projects are to increase water use efficiency and beneficial uses of water and to improve aquatic habitats in basin streams for fish and wildlife. Feasibility studies for the Uinta Basin Replacement Project were completed in 1998 and construction of the project, including enlargement of the existing Big Sand Wash reservoir and an M&I pipeline serving the community of Roosevelt, Utah was completed in 2006.

Local Development of Water Resources in lieu of CUP Facilities (CUPCA Section 206)
At the option of counties within the Central Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD) in which the construction of CUP facilities has not commenced, alternate water development projects, in lieu of CUP facilities, may be planned, funded and constructed. Piute, San Pete and Garfield Counties, have elected to receive funds for local water development projects under the 206 Program which is operated by the CUWCD.

Water Management Improvement (CUPCA Section 207) 
CUPCA authorized a number of features and studies under this section, the most important of which is the Water Management Improvement Plan to be developed and operated by the CUWCD. The plan is to encourage and fund water efficiency improvement projects within the CUP as a means of conserving existing water supplies for long-term future use. Water conservation goals were established and are to be achieved by means of individual water conservation projects evaluated and funded under the Water Conservation Credit Program, which was developed by the CUWCD to comply with this CUPCA mandate. An initial $50,000,000 was authorized to implement conservation measures in order to meet the water conservation goals.

Other features of this section includes a Water Conservation Pricing Study, a Study of Coordinated Operations of independent municipal and industrial and irrigation systems, and the creation of a Utah Water Conservation Advisory Board.

Mitigation and Conservation for Fish, Wildlife and Recreation (CUPCA Titles III and IV)
The Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission was created by Title III of CUPCA. This presidentially appointed Commission has sole authority to plan, fund and implement the fish, wildlife and recreation mitigation components of the Central Utah Project.  The Commission implements the various other studies, projects and components of mitigation that are contained in Title III. These components relate to wildlife and wetland land acquisition, fisheries enhancement project, instream flow acquisitions and protections in various Utah streams, and recreation improvements such as campgrounds and trails.

Title IV of CUPCA established the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Account in the U.S. Treasury to hold all funds appropriated to the Commission for carrying out its responsibilities for fish, wildlife and recreation mitigation for the CUP. The Commission's Mitigation and Conservation Plan, required by CUPCA, was issued in May 1996, and has since been revised based on changing mitigation obligations.

Upper Colorado River Basin Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Program (CUPCA Section 314(c))
The purpose of the Upper Colorado River Basin Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Program is to offset the adverse effects of construction and operation of federal water resource developments authorized by the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956 (CRSPA) (P.L. 84-485) and to otherwise benefit fish, wildlife and recreation resources in the Upper Colorado River basin. The program supplements the historic CRSPA mitigation and expands previous mitigation efforts to address inadequate previous mitigation or unforeseen circumstances.

Upper Colorado River Basin Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Program Requirements
Section 314(c) Project Proposal Ranking Criteria
Map - Upper Colorado River Stream System
Upper Colorado River Basin Fish & Wildlife Mitigation Program Report [FY04-09]
Upper Colorado River Basin Fish & Wildlife Mitigation Program Report [FY99-03]
Upper Colorado River Basin Fish & Wildlife Mitigation Program Report [FY94-98]

Grants Application Forms & Info
• SF-424 - Application form
• SF-424 - Instructions
• SF-424A - Project cost sheet

Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement (CUPCA Title V) 
Title V of CUPCA contains a variety of provisions for the benefit of the Ute Indian Tribe which, together with earlier agreements, form the Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement. The settlement provisions were developed in lieu of CUP water project features that were planned for the Ute Indian Tribe but never constructed. The provisions include direct annual payment of certain funds to the tribe, ratification of the Revised Ute Indian Compact which quantifies Tribal reserved water rights and allows increased use of such water, and establishes development funds for improving farming operations, aquatic and wildlife habitats on the reservation, and for general economic