Conservation pools are one tool the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is using to help fish during the drought, including here in the Uintah Basin. A “conservation pool” refers to water rights the DWR has purchased in order to keep water levels in reservoirs at a level sufficient to preserve the fishery. There are currently 34 conservation pools around the state, totalling over 40,000 acre feet of water. “We call these conservation pools because the purpose of our water rights is literally to conserve and save the fish in that reservoir when water levels are low,” said sportfish coordinator Randy Oplinger. “We try to purchase enough water so that in drought conditions, there will still be enough water to keep fish alive. Scofield, Sand Hollow, Minersville and Pelican Lake are some examples of waterbodies where we have conservation pools.” The DWR does not own water rights in all waterbodies.
