Fast-growing Western cities face megadrought
In March, Utah adopted a law creating a new water banking program, similar to those
in other states, that will allow water rights holders to “bank” their unused water
rights and lease them temporarily to others without selling them outright. This might
help a place like St. George, the fifth-fastest growing metro area in the U.S., according
to the Census bureau. Since 1980, its population has grown nearly seven-fold from 26,000
people to nearly 178,000. “We’re projecting it to reach about a half a million people
in the next 50 years,” said Pam Perlich.