Central Advisory Council

The Central Advisory Council (CAC) is a group of water rights holders, practitioners, elected officials, water managers, and subject matter experts. The nine members of the CAC represent the central and eastern regions of Utah, ranging from Dutch John to Castle Dale to Moab. CAC members are proud of the fact they represent the communities most immediately adjacent to the Colorado River and its tributaries.

Co-Chair:  William Merkley - William is the General Manager for Uintah Water Conservancy District. Previously Assistant Manager for Intermountain Farmers Association and USDA employee. Member of the Utah Water Task Force, Utah Water Users Association Board of Directors, and the Colorado River Water Users Association Board of Trustees. Received a Bachelor of Science in Crop Science and a Biology minor. William currently resides in Tridell, Utah.

Jon Richens, PE - Jon is the Industrial Regional Sales Manager and Senior Process Engineer for WesTech Engineering with over 20 years of experience in the Water Treatment and Process Equipment Industry. A native of Price, Utah, Jon currently serves as the Chairman for the Carbon Water Conservancy District and on the Carbon County Community Economic Development Board. Jon is a member of the Water Environment Association of Utah and is a licensed Utah Professional Engineer.

Derris Russell Jones - Derris is a certified wildlife biologist with extensive experience with Utah’s wildlife and range resources. A Spring Glenn, UT resident, Derris is the River Commissioner for the Price River and the Water Master for the North Carbon Group Irrigation Company. Derris earned his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science from Utah State University with an emphasis in Range Management. Derris is a member of the Wildlife Society and the Boone & Crockett Club.

Jack Lytle - A resident of Dutch John since 2002, Jack currently serves as a Daggett County Commissioner. Jack has worked for Utah’s Department of Natural Resources in many different capacities since 1985 and serves as a District Conservation Officer in Daggett County. Jack earned his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science from Utah State University.

Ellie Oakley - As the new Utah Colorado River Project Manager for TNC Utah, Ellie Oakley will develop and manage conservation projects for Utah’s portion of the Colorado River Basin, with a focus on addressing critical threats to natural systems and river-dependent species. Prior to joining TNC, Oakley worked for American Prairie, where she coordinated land acquisitions, water rights and grazing leases. She grew up exploring the arid wonderlands of New Mexico and Colorado and later spent time living in Bozeman—a place that sparked her dedication to conservation. Oakley holds a BA from Middlebury College and a master’s degree in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School, where her studies focused on the Colorado River system

Cody Allred - Cody is the Water Resource Manager for PacifiCorp, where he manages water supplies for its thermal generation fleet. Cody has several decades of experience interfacing with many key water resource-related external stakeholders – with a focus on managing and maintaining both water assets and important stakeholder relationships. Cody received a Bachelor’s in Earth and Environmental Science from Lehigh University.

Dex Winterton - Dex, an engineer by training and profession, is the General Manager for the Moon Lake Water Users Association. He previously served as the Assistant Manager for the Duchesne County Water Conservancy District and currently sits on the Conservancy District Board of Trustees and on the County Public Land Use Committee. Dex, a resident of Bluebell, received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Utah State University.

Bill Butcher - Bill is the President of the Price River Water Users Association, which holds the rights to the water in Scofield Reservoir. Bill is a cattle rancher from eastern Utah. He lives on a family ranch near Price. Bill received a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah.

Ben Musselman - Ben is the Manager for Grand Water & Sewer Service Agency where he is responsible for managing culinary water, irrigation water, and wastewater collection systems. In this capacity, Ben provides coordination and cooperation between the three local districts that form the Grand Water & Sewer Service Agency.

2026 RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD

With Colorado River negotiations concluding February 14, 2026, the Central Advisory Council presents intentionally specific and brief recommendations focused on the most critical issues. Time demands clarity and action. We recognize that a Compact call would be a disaster for central Utah. The state should negotiate in good faith, but we won't accept getting the short end of the stick.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

  1. Get to Compact Compliance the Right Way

We need to meet our 1922 Compact obligations through a negotiated deal, not through courts or federal mandates. But it has to be a fair deal that includes:

  • Real conservation commitments from all seven states—not just Utah shouldering the load
  • Protects Utah's right to develop our full allocation down the road
  • Ensures that Flaming Gorge and other CRSP Units are not casually sacrificed to meet the demands of Lower Basin states
  • Guarantees that Utah’s conservation efforts are fully recognized and not blended into regional accounting concepts that minimizes the sacrifice of Utah water users
  1. Get the Numbers Right

One of the key points central advisory council members continue to believe: You can't manage what you can't measure. Accurate water measurement isn't optional, it's necessary. The Board needs to continue to encourage our state policymakers to keep investing in the best measurement technology available. Likewise, we need to make sure Utah's numbers are collected the same way other states collect theirs and push for uniform standards across all basin states in the post-2026 deal. And finally, let’s be sure to keep the data transparent so everyone can see it. Without solid data, we're flying blind. Utah should lead on this.

BOTTOM LINE

Commissioner Shawcroft and Board members, we sincerely thank you for your continued hard work on these negotiations, and we have full confidence in your leadership and efforts moving forward. We ask that you continue to negotiate hard for a fair deal, protect Utah’s water users to the maximum extent possible, keep pushing on accurate measurement, and protect our state’s Colorado River water supply. 

The clock is ticking. We trust you'll fight for central Utah in these final weeks.