Every time you turn on the faucet, water begins a journey that started long before it reached your home. For Cedar Valley, that journey begins high in the mountains.

Each winter, snow blankets Cedar Mountain and the surrounding high elevations, creating a natural reservoir that stores water until warmer temperatures arrive. As spring temperatures rise, the snow melts gradually, feeding streams, supporting local ecosystems, and helping replenish the Cedar Valley aquifer, the primary source of water

for our communities.

This slow release is one of nature’s most effective water storage systems. Unlike rain, which often runs off quickly, mountain snowpack melts over weeks and months, giving water time to soak into the ground and recharge the aquifer.

The amount of snow we receive each winter plays an important role in our local water supply. A healthy snowpack helps sustain streamflow, supports groundwater recharge, and provides water long after the snow has disappeared from the mountains.

How We Track the Snow

You might wonder how water managers actually know how much snow is up there, or how much water it holds. The answer is a network of remote monitoring stations called SNOTEL sites, short for SNOw TELemetry maintained by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. A standard SNOTEL site measures and records hourly data on snow depth, snow water equivalent, precipitation, air temperature, soil moisture, and soil temperature, and that data is free and available to the public.

The key measurement is called snow water equivalent, or SWE; essentially, how much liquid water the snowpack would produce if it all melted at once. Forecasters compare current SWE readings to decades of historical data to predict how much water will be available for streamflow and groundwater recharge in the months ahead, giving water managers, including CVWC, an early look at what kind of water year Cedar Valley can expect.

The National Weather Service plays a role here too, tracking winter storm systems and precipitation patterns across the region, which helps forecasters anticipate how much snow the mountains will receive before it even falls.

While snowpack is essential, it’s only one piece of Cedar Valley’s long-term water strategy. Conservation, aquifer recharge, water reuse, and responsible planning all work together to protect our water resources and ensure a reliable supply for future generations.

The next time you look toward Cedar Mountain after a fresh snowfall, remember you’re looking at more than a beautiful winter landscape.

You’re looking at where much of Cedar Valley’s water story begins.

🏔️ Learn More

Want to learn more about where your water comes from? Visit Water Wise Landscaping to explore conservation resources, view the weekly lawn watering guide, learn about the Localscapes program, discover water-wise landscaping ideas, and connect with local water experts here in Cedar Valley.

💧 Did You Know? Mountain snowpack acts as a natural reservoir, storing water during the winter and releasing it slowly throughout the spring. That gradual melt helps replenish streams, recharge the aquifer, and support the water we depend on every day.

Sources

• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – Utah Snow Survey Program / SNOTEL Network
• National Weather Service – Winter Weather and Precipitation Outlooks
• Utah Division of Water Resources – Utah Water Resources / Snowpack
• Cedar Valley Water Conservancy – Water Resources and Conservation Information

The purpose of our Get to Know Your H₂O series is to educate our community on all things water. Cedar Valley Water Conservancy (CVWC) is actively engaged in education, conservation, reuse, and import projects to meet the growing demands on our local water supply.

For every effort you make to conserve, you are doing your part, too. To Get to Know Your H₂O, visit cedarvalleywaterutah.gov.

We’re all in this together, and we’re here to help — reach out anytime you have questions about Cedar Valley’s water future.

A beautiful yard doesn’t have to come with a high water bill.

Many homeowners assume that an attractive landscape means using more water, but often the opposite is true. By choosing native and climate-adapted plants, you can create a vibrant, colorful landscape that thrives in Southern Utah while using significantly less water than a traditional lawn.

Plants naturally adapted to our climate have evolved to handle hot summers, dry conditions, and fluctuating weather. Once established, many require less irrigation, are easier to maintain, and provide beauty throughout the seasons.

Water-wise landscapes do more than conserve water, too. Native plants provide food and shelter for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. They improve soil health, reduce runoff, and create landscapes that better reflect the natural beauty of Cedar Valley.

That doesn’t mean giving up green space altogether. The Localscapes approach encourages homeowners to use turf where it serves a purpose, play areas, gathering spaces, while replacing unnecessary grass with water-efficient plants, mulch, pathways, and functional landscape features. By putting the right plant in the right place, you can enjoy a landscape that’s both beautiful and practical.

Small changes make a big difference. Replacing a section of unused lawn, adding mulch around plants, or incorporating drought-tolerant flowers are simple ways to reduce outdoor water use without sacrificing curb appeal.

Choosing climate-adapted plants isn’t just good for your yard, it’s good for our community. Outdoor irrigation is one of the largest uses of water during summer months, and every gallon saved helps protect Cedar Valley’s groundwater for future generations.

With thoughtful planning, your landscape can be colorful, inviting, and water-wise.

Sometimes the best way to conserve water is to let nature show us how.

Three Local Favorites

Not sure where to start? These native and climate-adapted plants are well-suited to Iron County yards:

Cliffrose Purshia stansburiana View on USU Extension →

Utah Serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis View on USU Extension →

Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii View on USU Extension →

💧 Did You Know? Outdoor watering is often the largest use of water at home during the summer. Choosing native and climate-adapted plants can significantly reduce irrigation needs while creating a landscape that’s beautiful, resilient, and better suited to Southern Utah.

Learn More

Interested in creating a water-wise landscape? Join one of Cedar Valley Water Conservancy’s FREE Localscapes classes to learn practical landscaping techniques, irrigation tips, and plant recommendations designed for Southern Utah. Visit Water Wise Landscaping to explore landscaping ideas, use the interactive plant selector tool, access the weekly lawn watering guide, learn about the Localscapes program, and connect with local water conservation experts right here in Cedar Valley.

Water Wise Landscaping

Sources

• cedarvalleywaterutah.gov  — learn more about upcoming classes and landscaping resources.
• Cedar Valley Water Conservancy – Localscapes Program
• Utah State University Extension – Range Plants of Utah  — plant profiles for Cliffrose and Utah Serviceberry.
• Utah State University Extension – Books and Field Guides  — additional plant identification resources.
• Utah Division of Water Resources – Localscapes Program
• Slow the Flow – Water-Wise Landscaping Resources

We’re all in this together, and we’re here to help — reach out anytime you have questions about making your landscape more water-wise.

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The purpose of our Get To Know Your H2O series is to educate our community on all things water. Cedar Valley Water Conservancy (CVWC) is actively engaged in education, conservation, reuse and import projects to meet the growing demands on local water supply.

For every effort you make to conserve, you are doing your part, too. To Get to Know Your H2O, visit https://cedarvalleywaterutah.gov.  

When you wash your hands, take a shower, or run the dishwasher, have you ever wondered where that water goes?

Most of us never think about it once it disappears down the drain. But thanks to an innovative project here in Cedar Valley, that water can serve a second purpose.

The Water Reuse Project helps Cedar Valley Water Conservancy make the most of every drop by capturing treated reuse water and putting it to work for irrigation. This recycling process allows us to clean the water and use it again for outdoor purposes, saving groundwater for the indoor needs that matter most, like drinking, cooking, and bathing.

Located at the Cedar City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, the process begins after wastewater has gone through multiple stages of treatment to meet strict state standards. Rather than being discharged, the reclaimed water is captured, stored, and prepared for approved irrigation uses, i.e. parks, schools, golf courses, cemeteries, churches, and other large landscaped areas.

The impact is significant. The project is expected to offset nearly 3 million gallons of culinary water every day during the irrigation season, that’s about 9 acre-feet a day, or nearly 4,000 acre-feet a year. Every gallon of reclaimed water used for irrigation is one less gallon pumped from the Cedar Valley aquifer, moving the valley closer to long-term groundwater sustainability.

This project is part of a larger strategy that includes conservation, aquifer recharge, and developing additional water supplies to meet the needs of a growing community. Together, these efforts help ensure Cedar Valley has a resilient, reliable water supply for generations to come.

For years, nearly three million gallons of water flowed into the wastewater treatment plant each day it was treated, then discharged and lost. Now, thanks to the Water Reuse Project, that same three million gallons goes back into the system instead, becoming part of the solution. By reusing water safely and responsibly, we’re protecting our aquifer, conserving drinking water, and making every drop count.

Because sometimes, the smartest way to conserve water is to use it twice.

💧 Get to Know Your H₂O — Did You Know? The Cedar Valley  Water Reuse Project is expected to conserve nearly 4,000 acre-feet of culinary water each year by providing highly treated reclaimed water for irrigation instead of using drinking water.

Sources

• Cedar Valley Water Conservancy – Phase One of Effluent Reuse Project Complete: Delivering Significant Water Savings for Cedar Valley Aquifer
• Utah Department of Environmental Quality – Water Reuse Program
• Cedar Valley Water Conservancy – Newsroom

We’re all in this together, and we’re here to help — reach out anytime you have questions about Cedar Valley’s water future.

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The purpose of our Get To Know Your H2O series is to educate our community on all things water. Cedar Valley Water Conservancy (CVWC) is actively engaged in education, conservation, reuse and import projects to meet the growing demands on local water supply.

For every effort you make to conserve, you are doing your part, too. To Get to Know Your H2O, visit https://cedarvalleywaterutah.gov.  

When you turn on the tap, it’s easy to assume clean, reliable water will always be there. But making sure future generations have that same reliability takes planning, responsible management, and investments made years, sometimes decades, in advance. That’s what the Pine Valley Water Supply Project (PVWS) is all about.

Why We Need It

We rely heavily on groundwater from the Cedar Valley aquifer, a resource that’s supported homes, businesses, schools, and agriculture for generations. For years, more water has been pumped from that aquifer than nature alone can replace.

That’s why the Utah Division of Water Resources initiated the Cedar Valley Groundwater Management Plan, to reduce the pull on our declining aquifer and bring use back into balance. As part of that effort, Cedar City, Enoch, and the Water Conservancy have put checks and balances in place to accept only senior water rights, to educate our communities on conservation, and to pursue ways to recharge the aquifer and reuse the water we already have.

Conservation, water reuse, and aquifer recharge are all essential pieces of the solution. But developing additional reliable water sources is just as important, it takes pressure off the aquifer and helps protect it for the long run.

What the Project Does

Pine Valley will deliver 15,000 acre-feet of water using court-decreed water rights the District already owns. Developing this existing right diversifies our water portfolio and builds a more resilient supply for decades to come.

A project this size doesn’t happen overnight. It’s taken 20 years of engineering, environmental studies, permitting, and coordination with state and federal agencies to get where we are today.

Infrastructure You Don’t See

Pipelines, wells, storage facilities, and delivery systems work quietly every day to bring clean water to our homes and businesses. Investing in that infrastructure is a lot like maintaining roads or bridges, it’s easy to overlook until you need it, and it’s what keeps our community running.

Pine Valley works alongside other efforts already underway: conservation education, efficient irrigation, aquifer recharge, and the District’s Reuse Water Project. Together, they form a balanced approach to protecting one of Cedar Valley’s most valuable resources.

By the Numbers: Pine Valley will provide 15,000 acre-feet of water using rights already owned by the District, helping diversify our supply and reduce pressure on the Cedar Valley aquifer for decades to come.

By planning today, we’re helping make sure future generations can live, work, and grow right here, with the water they need to do it.

Every drop counts, and every investment we make today builds a stronger water future for tomorrow.

Sources

• Cedar Valley Water Conservancy – Pine Valley Water Supply Project
• Utah Division of Water Rights – Cedar Valley Groundwater Management Plan

We’re all in this together, and we’re here to help — reach out anytime you have questions about Cedar Valley’s water future.

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The purpose of our Get To Know Your H2O series is to educate our community on all things water. Cedar Valley Water Conservancy (CVWC) is actively engaged in education, conservation, reuse and import projects to meet the growing demands on local water supply.

For every effort you make to conserve, you are doing your part, too. To Get to Know Your H2O, visit https://cedarvalleywaterutah.gov.  

Water is something we all use dozens of times a day without much thought, a faucet turned on, a lawn watered, a glass filled. In Cedar Valley, that reliability isn’t automatic. It depends on careful planning, responsible management, and a community that understands the value of every drop.

“Every Drop Counts” isn’t just a slogan. It’s a reminder that small actions, multiplied across thousands of homes and businesses, add up to something significant.

A Limited Resource

Unlike communities with large rivers or lakes, Cedar Valley relies heavily on groundwater stored in our aquifer. That water is replenished by snowpack, rainfall, streamflow, and managed recharge projects, but it isn’t unlimited. As our community grows, protecting this resource matters more every year. Every gallon conserved today helps ensure water is there for homes, businesses, agriculture, and future generations.

Small Actions Add Up

It’s easy to assume one leaking sprinkler or a few extra minutes of watering won’t matter. But multiply that across thousands of households, and the impact is real. A few habits that help:

Water your lawn before 10:00 a.m. to reduce evaporation. Repair leaking sprinkler heads and irrigation lines. Aim sprinklers at plants – not sidewalks or driveways. Choose water-wise landscaping and native plants where you can. Follow the weekly lawn watering guide to avoid overwatering. Fix household leaks as soon as you find them.

No single action solves our water challenges alone, but together, they protect one of Cedar Valley’s most valuable resources.

Working Together

Conservation is only one piece of the picture. Cedar Valley Water Conservancy is also investing in projects that stretch every available water source further. Managed aquifer recharge returns water to the groundwater basin. Water reuse projects provide treated water for irrigation, reducing the need to pump culinary-quality groundwater. Long-term planning, infrastructure upgrades, and new supply projects all work together to help secure Cedar Valley’s water future, so water can serve multiple purposes before it ever leaves the system.

Every Person Makes a Difference

Water conservation isn’t about one person making a huge sacrifice. It’s about thousands of us making thoughtful choices every day, shortening an irrigation cycle, fixing a leak, planting something drought-tolerant. When we all do a little, together we accomplish a lot.

Because in Cedar Valley, every drop counts.

Water Wise Tip Saving water doesn’t always mean using less, it often means using it more efficiently. Small improvements in how we water and maintain our landscapes can have a lasting impact on Cedar Valley’s water future.

Sources & Additional Reading

• Utah Division of Water Resources – Water Conservation  – statewide conservation programs and resources.
• Cedar Valley Water Conservancy  –  local projects, planning, and programs.
• Slow the Flow  – Utah conservation tips and rebate programs.

We’re all in this together, and we’re here to help – reach out anytime you have questions about making your landscape more water-wise.

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The purpose of our Get To Know Your H2O series is to educate our community on all things water. Cedar Valley Water Conservancy (CVWC) is actively engaged in education, conservation, reuse and import projects to meet the growing demands on local water supply.

For every effort you make to conserve, you are doing your part, too. To Get to Know Your H2O, visit https://cedarvalleywaterutah.gov.  

When we think about water, we often picture mountain streams, lakes, reservoirs, or the water flowing from our kitchen faucet. But one of Cedar Valley’s most important water sources is something we rarely see, our aquifer.

Hidden beneath the ground, the Cedar Valley aquifer serves as a natural underground reservoir that stores the groundwater supplying homes, businesses, schools, parks, and much of the agriculture throughout our valley. While it may be out of sight, it plays an essential role in our everyday lives.

What Is an Aquifer?

An aquifer is a layer of underground sand, gravel, and rock that holds water in the spaces between the sediment. Think of it like a giant natural sponge beneath the valley floor. As water from snowmelt, rainfall, streams, and managed recharge projects slowly filters through the soil, it fills these underground spaces, where it can be stored for years before being pumped to the surface through wells.

Unlike a lake or reservoir, an aquifer isn’t one large underground pool of water. Instead, the water moves slowly through the tiny spaces between layers of rock and sediment, creating a reliable source of groundwater for our community.

How Does the Aquifer Recharge?

Every spring, snowpack on Cedar Mountain begins to melt, sending water into Coal Creek and other natural drainage systems. Some of this water naturally seeps into the ground, helping replenish the aquifer.

Cedar Valley Water Conservancy also works to increase this natural recharge through managed aquifer recharge projects. Water that might otherwise be lost is directed into specially designed recharge basins, where it slowly filters into the ground and becomes part of the aquifer. Innovative projects like the Quichapa Recharge Project also help capture water that was once lost to evaporation, putting it back to work by supporting agriculture, reducing groundwater pumping, and replenishing our underground water supply.

Why Conservation Matters

The aquifer supplies much of the culinary water used throughout Cedar Valley, but it is not an unlimited resource. For many years, groundwater has been pumped from the aquifer faster than nature alone can replenish it. As a result, the Utah Division of Water Rights adopted the Cedar City Valley Groundwater Management Plan to help bring groundwater withdrawals back into balance with the aquifer’s long-term sustainable yield. The plan provides a framework for protecting this vital resource while ensuring water remains available for future generations. Conservation, water reuse, managed aquifer recharge, and the development of additional water supplies all play an important role in achieving that goal.

Simple actions-watering landscapes efficiently, fixing leaks, choosing water-wise plants, and using water only when needed, can make a meaningful difference. Every gallon conserved today is a gallon that remains available for tomorrow.

Every Drop Counts

Although we can’t see the aquifer beneath our feet, we depend on it every day. By understanding where our water comes from and making thoughtful choices about how we use it, each of us plays a role in protecting Cedar Valley’s water future.

The next time you turn on the tap, remember that the water you’re using likely began its journey as mountain snow, slowly filtering through the earth before being stored safely beneath the valley. It’s a remarkable natural system, one that is worth protecting for generations to come.

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Water Wise Tip

You can’t see the aquifer, but you can help protect it. Conserving water, watering efficiently, and supporting water reuse and recharge projects all help ensure Cedar Valley has a reliable water supply for years to come.

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Sources

• Utah Division of Water Rights – Cedar City Valley Groundwater Management Plan
• Cedar City Valley Groundwater Management Plan (Adopted January 11, 2021)

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The purpose of out Get To Know Your H2O series is to educate our community on all things water. Cedar Valley Water Conservancy (CVWC) is actively engaged in education, conservation, reuse and import projects to meet the growing demands on local water supply.

For every effort you make to conserve, you are doing your part, too. To Get to Know Your H2O, visit https://cedarvalleywaterutah.gov.  

Coal Creek: More Than a Scenic Creek

For many people, Coal Creek is one of Cedar Valley’s most recognizable landmarks. It winds through Cedar City, providing beautiful scenery and a reminder that our water begins high in the mountains. But Coal Creek does much more than add to our landscape, it plays a vital role in Cedar Valley’s water system.

Each spring, snowmelt from Cedar Mountain flows into Coal Creek, beginning a journey that supports farms, replenishes our aquifer, and helps provide water for our community. Unlike a major river that flows for hundreds of miles, Coal Creek is a creek with a limited watershed that eventually comes to an end. That means every drop of water is valuable, and Cedar Valley has developed innovative ways to make the most of this precious resource.

As the water travels downstream, some naturally seeps through the creek bed and into the ground, helping recharge the Cedar Valley aquifer. But the journey doesn’t stop there. Much of Coal Creek’s water is carefully managed to support agriculture, groundwater recharge, and water reuse projects that allow this limited water supply to benefit the community more than once.

Water That Works More Than Once

As Coal Creek flows through the valley, much of its water is diverted to irrigate local agricultural fields. That water helps grow crops that support our community and local economy.

When runoff exceeds immediate irrigation needs, Cedar Valley Water Conservancy works with partners to capture and put that excess water to work instead of letting it go to waste.

Some of the excess flow is directed into managed recharge basins, where it slowly filters through layers of soil and gravel before replenishing the Cedar Valley aquifer. This process, called managed aquifer recharge, helps restore groundwater supplies.

Giving Water a Second Purpose

Historically, water flowing into Quichapa Lake had elevated levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), making it unsuitable for culinary use. As the water sat in the lake, evaporation concentrated the dissolved minerals, causing TDS levels to continue rising while the water itself slowly disappeared. What was once a resource with limited use was eventually lost to evaporation. Today, the Quichapa Recharge Project has changed that outcome by capturing and repurposing this water to support agriculture, recharge the aquifer, and reduce groundwater pumping, turning a previously underutilized resource into part of Cedar Valley’s long-term water strategy.

The project diverts cleaner excess water into a specially designed “lazy river” where sediment can settle out naturally. From there, the water can either be pumped into a nearby agricultural fields for irrigation. When the farmer uses this surface water, they can idle their groundwater wells, reducing groundwater pumping and helping preserve the aquifer for culinary use.

Every Drop Has a Purpose

Coal Creek is more than a beautiful place to visit. It is part of a carefully managed water system that combines nature with innovative infrastructure. From mountain snowpack to agricultural irrigation, groundwater recharge, and water reuse, each step helps maximize one of Cedar Valley’s most valuable resources.

Projects like the Quichapa Recharge Project, and the recharge basins demonstrate how thoughtful planning can take water that was once lost to evaporation and put it back to work—supporting agriculture, replenishing the aquifer, and helping secure a reliable water supply for future generations.

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Learn More

If you’d like to learn more about the Quichapa Recharge Project and how it helps conserve water in Cedar Valley, visit:

Quichapa Recharge Project

or read the project press release:

Quichapa Recharge Project Press Release

What Is an Aquifer?

An aquifer is a natural underground layer of sand, gravel, and rock that stores groundwater. Think of it as a giant underground reservoir that supplies water to homes, businesses, farms, and communities throughout Cedar Valley.

Unlike a lake or reservoir, you can’t see an aquifer, but it is one of our valley’s most valuable natural resources.

Did You Know?
Much of the water that falls as snow on Cedar Mountain eventually makes its way through Coal Creek, where some of it naturally filters into the ground and helps replenish Cedar Valley’s aquifer. Nature has been recharging our water supply long before modern infrastructure existed.

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The purpose of the Water Wise Wednesday series is to educate our community on all things water. Cedar Valley Water Conservancy (CVWC) is actively engaged in education, conservation, reuse and import projects to meet the growing demands on local water supply.

For every effort you make to conserve, you are doing your part, too. To Get to Know Your H2O, visit https://cedarvalleywaterutah.gov.  

We know how much this community cares about its lawns, gardens, and the land we all share — and we want to help you get the most out of every drop of water you use.

Here’s one simple habit that makes a real difference: water before 10:00 AM.

Cedar Valley summers are hot, dry, and windy, tough conditions for water trying to soak into the ground. Water in the afternoon heat, and a lot of it evaporates before it ever reaches your grass’s roots. Water during the cool morning hours instead, and more of it sinks deep into the soil where your lawn can actually use it.

Morning watering has another benefit: your lawn dries out during the day instead of sitting wet overnight, which helps prevent lawn disease and fungus.

Deeper Roots, Tougher Lawn

Deep watering trains grass roots to grow down instead of staying near the surface. Deeper roots mean a lawn that holds up better in the heat and needs less water overall. Frequent, shallow watering does the opposite, it keeps roots shallow and your lawn more vulnerable to drought stress.

A Few Easy Habits Water before 10:00 AM. Check sprinklers regularly for leaks, broken heads, or clogs. Aim sprinklers at your lawn, not the sidewalk or driveway. Water deeply, but less often. Adjust your schedule as the weather changes through the season.

Every Drop Counts

Water is one of our community’s most valuable resources, and we’re grateful to everyone in Cedar Valley doing their part to use it wisely. Small habits, multiplied across our neighborhoods, add up to a real difference.

Not sure if your sprinklers are running efficiently? Cedar Valley Water Conservancy offers free irrigation checks to help you spot leaks, fix coverage issues, and get more out of every watering day.

More Resources to Help You Save

Weekly Lawn Watering Guide – Conserve Water Utah  — a simple, week-by-week watering schedule based on real-time conditions across Utah.

Slow the Flow  — statewide water conservation tips and rebate programs for Utah homeowners.

Localscapes  — a Utah-based approach to landscaping that saves water while keeping your yard beautiful and functional.

Waterwise Plants – Utah Division of Water Resources  — plant choices that thrive in our climate with less water.

Wildflower Ethics and Native Plants – US Forest Service  — guidance on responsibly growing and enjoying native plants.

We’re all in this together, and we’re here to help — reach out anytime you have questions about making your landscape more water-wise.

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The purpose of our Get To Know Your H2O series is to educate our community on all things water. Cedar Valley Water Conservancy (CVWC) is actively engaged in education, conservation, reuse and import projects to meet the growing demands on local water supply.

For every effort you make to conserve, you are doing your part, too. To Get to Know Your H2O, visit https://cedarvalleywaterutah.gov.  

May 27, 2026