MINUTES OF THE
NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Monday, February 10, 2020 • 8:00 a.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. David P. Hinkins, Senate Chair
Rep. Stewart E. Barlow, House Chair
Rep. Scott H. Chew, House Vice Chair
Sen. Don L. Ipson
Sen. Jani Iwamoto
Sen. Ralph Okerlund
Sen. Scott D. Sandall
Sen. Ronald Winterton
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht
Rep. Kay J. Christofferson
Rep. Stephen G. Handy
Rep. Suzanne Harrison
Rep. Karen Kwan
Rep. Phil Lyman
Rep. Lee B. Perry
Rep. Casey Snider
Rep. Keven J. Stratton
Rep. Logan Wilde

Members Absent:
Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher

Staff Present:
Ivan D. Djambov, Finance Manager
Lacey K. Moore, Financial Analyst
Christopher Vizcardo, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Barlow called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
1. Division of Water Resources
Ivan Djambov, Legislative Fiscal Analyst, Office the Legislative Fiscal Analyst (LFA), presented on the Division of Water Resources.
Sen. Iwamoto commented on hiring a project manager for the water banking initiative.
Todd Adams, Director of the Division of Water Resources, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), responded to the presentation.
2) Water Resources Presentation
Water for Utah 2020
Rep. Harrison asked a question about the change in the regional water conservation goals. Todd Adams responded.
Sen. Iwamoto asked a question regarding the Colorado River Compact. Todd Adams responded.
Rep. Chew asked a question about drought contingency planning. Todd Adams responded.
2. Approval of Minutes
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes of January 31 and February 4, 2020. The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6.
Yeas - 13Nays-0Abs-6
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Barlow
Rep. S. Chew
Rep. K. Christofferson
Rep. S. Handy
Rep. S. Harrison
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Iwamoto
Rep. P. Lyman
Sen. R. Okerlund
Rep. L. Perry
Rep. C. Snider
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. Ipson
Rep. K. Kwan
Sen. S. Sandall
Rep. K. Stratton
Sen. D. Thatcher
Rep. L. Wilde
3. RFA: Water Loss Accounting Program (Rep. Ballard)
Rep. Ballard presented the appropriation request for the Water Loss Accounting Program with support from Todd Adams, Director of Division of Water Resources, DNR.
4. RFA: S.B. 84 Public Entity Water Users (Sen. Anderegg)
Sen. Anderegg presented the appropriation request for S.B. 84 Public Entity Water Users.
Sen. Hinkins asked about the purpose of the appropriation request. Sen. Anderegg responded. Discussion followed.
Sen. Okerlund asked a question regarding water metering in small townships. Todd Adams and Sen. Anderegg responded.
Rep. Albrecht asked about existing water metering. Sen. Anderegg responded.
5. Division of Water Rights
Ivan Djambov presented on the Division of Water Rights.
Boyd Clayton, Interim State Engineer of the Division of Water Rights, DNR, responded to the presentation with the support from Tom Upton and Gary Belston, Financial Managers, Division of Water Rights.
5) Division of Water Rights Presentation
Rep. Lyman asked a question regarding the amount of data available to the Division of Water Rights. Boyd Clayton responded.
Rep. Christofferson asked about adjusting agency fees. Boyd Clayton responded.
6. RFA: Agriculture Water Optimization (Rep. Ferry)
Rep. Ferry presented the appropriation request with support from Jay Olsen, Environmental Program Manager, Department of Agriculture and Food, and Kelly Pehrson, Interim Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Rep. Chew asked a question on the nature of the projects funded by the current building block and past appropriations. Rep. Ferry, Jay Olsen, and Kelly Pherson responded. Discussion followed.
Chair Barlow asked for clarification on the amount of funding being requested. Kelly Pehrson responded.
7. Division of Water Quality
Lacey Moore, Financial Analyst, LFA, presented on the Division of Water Quality.
Erica Gaddis, Director of the Division of Water Quality responded with support from Scott Baird, Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
8) Water Quality Presentation
8) a. Water Quality Incentive Program Info Sheet
Rep. Chew asked a question regarding the number of Comprehensive Nutrient Management planners involved in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Erica Gaddis responded.
Rep. Snider asked a series of questions regarding Algal Blooms. Erica Gaddis responded. Discussion followed.
Rep. Harrison asked a question regarding the State Water Infrastructure Investment. Scott Baird responded. Discussion followed.
Rep. Kwan commented on the work done by the Division of Water Quality.
8. RFA: Agriculture Water Quality Incentive Program (Rep. Ferry)
Rep. Ferry presented the appropriation request with support from Hannah Freeze, NRCS - Tremonton Field Office.
Targeted Watersheds For Implementation
Rep. Chew asked a question regarding the Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan Incentive from Utah State University and the Utah Farm Bureau. Hannah Freeze responded. Discussion followed.
Rep. Wilde asked how many Comprehensive Nutrient Management planners were in Utah a decade ago. Hannah Freeze and Erica Gaddis responded. Discussion followed.
9. RFA: Toilets are not Trash Cans - Wet Wipes/Pharmaceuticals Public Outreach
Rep. Albrecht presented the appropriation request with support from Jill Jones, General Manager of the Central Davis Sewer System.
Toilets Are Not Trash Cans Public Outreach
Keep wet wipes out of the pipes!
Art Examples
10. Division of Drinking Water
Lacey Moore presented on the Division of Drinking Water.
Marie Owens, Director of the Division of Drinking Water, DEQ, responded to the presentation with the support of Scott Baird, DEQ.
Building the Future of Utah's Drinking Water
Sen. Iwamoto asked a question regarding the operational failures that happened in Sandy. Marie Owens responded.
Rep. Christofferson asked a question regarding the decrease of federal funding to the Division of Drinking Water. Marie Owens responded. Discussion followed.
Rep. Handy commented on the Lead in Schools Testing Initiative.
Rep. Chew commented on the improvements in drinking water testing that have been made throughout the history of Utah.
Rep. Wilde thanked the Division of Drinking Water for their customer service with small water systems.
Rep. Harrison thanked the Division of Drinking Water for their services and efforts.
11. RFA: Wildfire Preparedness Grant (Rep. Owens)
Rep. Owens presented the appropriation request.
12. RFA: Shared Stewardship (Rep. Snider)
Utah Shared Stewardship Action Plan
Rep. Snider presented the appropriation request.
13. RFA: Strategic and Targeted Forest Fire Treatment and Mitigation
Rep. Hutchings presented the appropriation request with support from Brenner Adams, 106 Reforestation.
14. Adjourn
Rep. Chew moved to adjourn.
Chair Barlow adjourned the meeting.