08-26-2022, 05:22 PM
Ummm, the reservoir would not even exist if it weren't for the farmers.
"Minersville Reservoir was created in 1914 by the construction of the Rocky Ford dam, an Embankment dam to impound water from the Beaver River which heads in the Tushar Mountains for use in agriculture."
So yes, when push comes to shove the farmers will drain it to grow their crops. It's the whole reason the reason the reservoir is there. Recreation in the form of fishing, boating, sailing or whatever is very much secondary and should never override an reservoir built primarily for irrigation. It would be nice to see the state in conjunction with the Utah DWR actually build some more reservoirs in southern Utah that are primarily for recreation use. I doubt it will happen much though. Most people just like to whine and complain about the farmers rather than open their wallets and build a recreation body of water.
"Minersville Reservoir was created in 1914 by the construction of the Rocky Ford dam, an Embankment dam to impound water from the Beaver River which heads in the Tushar Mountains for use in agriculture."
So yes, when push comes to shove the farmers will drain it to grow their crops. It's the whole reason the reason the reservoir is there. Recreation in the form of fishing, boating, sailing or whatever is very much secondary and should never override an reservoir built primarily for irrigation. It would be nice to see the state in conjunction with the Utah DWR actually build some more reservoirs in southern Utah that are primarily for recreation use. I doubt it will happen much though. Most people just like to whine and complain about the farmers rather than open their wallets and build a recreation body of water.