Southeast Advisory Council

The Southeast Advisory Council (SE AC) is composed of 9 members representing various perspectives from South East Utah. Members of the SE AC represent diverse backgrounds and viewpoints from the region, including some with a state or local government background. Others represent the energy and agricultural industries. Other members work with water districts, academia, or advocacy organizations. We are grateful for the opportunity to present to the Board a few recommendations that have emerged from our conversations this past year.

George Matocha - George is the Chairman of the San Juan Water Conservancy in Blanding, Utah. President and owner of Matocha Associates, a planning, architecture, and engineering firm, George has also served two terms on the City of Monticello Planning Commission. George received a BS in Architectural Engineering and an MS in Business Administration. George lives in Monticello.

Stanley Wood - Stanley is a former Wayne County Commissioner where he oversaw the county’s work on water, public lands, and public health. He has served on many boards and committees and brings an agricultural perspective to county government. Stanly is a resident of Lyman.

Kaden Figgins- Kaden is currently serving as the Director of Planning & Economic Development for Garfield County, Utah.  Born and raised in Panguitch, Utah, Kaden has a deep-rooted connection to the community and a genuine passion for its growth and prosperity. He holds a degree in Finance from Dixie State University and a certificate in Economic Development from Utah Valley University. Throughout the last 5 years in his role, Kaden developed a solid foundation in land use planning, zoning regulations, and community development.

Anthony Mancuso- Anthony is the Colorado River & Green River Coordinator for the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands at the Utah Department of Natural Resources. He has served on the planning team and steering committees over the Green and Colorado River Comprehensive Management plans. Anthony previously worked as a whitewater outfitter and raft guide and as a counselor for special needs populations. Anthony received a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Outdoor Recreation Leadership from Mansfield University.

Carl Albrecht- Carl is a member of the Utah House of Representatives, representing Emery, Grand, Sanpete, and Sevier Counties.

Simone Griffin- Simone is the Policy Director for Blueribbon Coalition

Brian Martinez- Brian is a Commissioner for Grand County

Lynn Jackson- Lynn is a lifelong resident of Utah and has lived in Moab for 43 years. Lynn has been a geologist and Manager for 32 years with the Bureau of Land Management in Southeastern Utah, having dealt with all resource issues in the region including the Colorado River and its drainages.  He is a former County Commissioner in Grand County and has spent 15 years as a public lands consultant focused primarily on minerals and mining and other natural resource issues.

SAC 2025 OBJECTIVES

  • Initiate a targeted public outreach effort where the SAC hosts and sponsors Colorado river-focused listening sessions and informational briefings with local community stakeholders and the public
  • Separate into distinct Southeastern and Southwestern councils in order to expand council membership and to help facilitate the councils’ targeted outreach efforts
  • Expand individual council members' understanding of the critical current and ongoing issues, challenges, and developments affecting the Colorado River in Utah and the West
  • Find more effective ways to listen to and learn from key area stakeholders including tribes, water users, agriculture  community, housing industry, etc. 
  • Share ideas and best practices with other state advisory councils
  • Continue to provide timely, concrete, actionable recommendations to the Authority Board on how best to allocate scarce Colorado River resources 
  • Discuss, develop, and present longer-term (5-10 year) planning ideas and suggestions to the Authority Board

2025 RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD

1)Protect and enhance local economies - While we recognize change and sacrifice are needed from all citizens within the Colorado River Basin, we hope any decisions by the Board will continue to give due consideration to how those policies impact local economies. Living with less water will disproportionately impact certain communities more than others. Anticipated costs and impacts on Utah’s citizens need to be given the highest consideration. We urge the board to commit to promoting and emphasizing economic development along the Colorado River system. Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge are both critical energy, recreation, and tourism resources and need to be defended.    

2)Conservation - The Board should make every effort to encourage state policymakers to promote water conservation including within the Colorado River Basin. The state of Utah should set the goal of becoming a conservation leader in the western United States. All Utahns must utilize their existing water supplies as efficiently and effectively as possible. A variety of conservation measures should be funded and prioritized.

3)Protecting Habitat for all living things is a worthwhile objective - While a focus on economic impacts and water conservation needs to be considered first and foremost, we also urge the Board to keep in mind the critical wildlife and habitat considerations of the Colorado River watershed both for human and non-human species. Projects that improve wildlife habitat should be supported.

4)Defend Utah’s allocation - The SAC acknowledges that any future development in the state must occur within the bounds of what mother nature provides. The Board and River Commissioner should stand firm in defending Utah’s access to its full 23% share of water available.

5)Listen to agriculture and rural voices - The SAC believes that Utah’s rural and agricultural communities are critical to Utah’s economy and culture. We believe agriculture and rural communities throughout the state must be fully heard and duly considered whenever water policies and decisions are being made.  

6)Support Storage and other responsible water projects -The SAC believes Utah should lead by example in encouraging responsible water development by pursuing additional storage opportunities that are cost-effective and consistent with sound fiscal and water policy. Utah should encourage the other Basin states to do the same thing as well as explore desalinization and other water augmentation strategies.

7)Energy is Critical - As the nation transitions to cleaner energy, small-scale nuclear, new hydro, pump storage, geothermal, and small storage programs can play an important role in this transition. The Board should promote energy development through water resource projects. The significant energy security provided by Glen Canyon Dam should not be minimized.

8)Look at all options to maximize smart use - The SAC supports maximizing usage of local water resources, including recycling, regional reuse systems, and pursuing agricultural conversion on a willing-buyer/willing-seller basis. As the Board attempts to find ways to save and conserve water, we are encouraged by your past support of agricultural optimization (including crop-switching and targeted rotational and seasonal fallowing) where appropriate and cost-effective.

9)Measurement should continue to be a focus - The Board should commit to promoting highly accurate measurement and continue to coordinate closely with DNR and other state agencies to ensure that Utah uses the most advanced, recent data and that Utah’s per capita use is being measured the same way as other states and municipalities.