MANTUA – Utah Division of State Parks is considering adding Mantua Reservoir to their 46-state park system. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 10,450 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 7,560 acre-feet and a drainage area of 9 square miles.
The small waterbody between Brigham City and Wellsville is a popular fishery with a variety of catchable pan-size fish. It is fished in both the winter and summer.
The reservoir is also used for watersports and a place to play in the summer.
On February 6, Mantua Mayor Annette Ash and council members Cheryl Burgan and Scott Ross and other locals met with the Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director Scott Chris Haramoto at Echo State Park. DJ Bott Brigham City Mayor was also at the meeting. Although the town of Mantua is adjacent to the reservoir, Brigham City owns the reservoir and several hundred acres to the east of it.
Echo State Park Manager Amber Goodell said the park upgraded the boat ramp to accommodate up to three simultaneous launches, and improved parking. They also cleaned up the 36 facilities, restrooms, camping and cabins.
The park is open year-round and is staffed by full-time and seasonal employees, mostly young local workers. The park runs community Easter egg hunt, ice fishing tournament, but fishing is still the major draw.
Coalville Mayor Roy Swenson told the group the conditions around reservoir have improved since state park designation. Coalville lies outside Echo State Park, and the city does not receive state reservoir fees. Swenson said revenue has increased due to tourism and local business support during summer and winter. Fishing in both the summer and winter has been a big contributor to the city coffers.
Ally O’Rullion a spokesperson for the Utah State Parks Utah State Parks, said they are currently engaging with their stakeholders regarding the possibility of adding Mantua Reservoir to the Utah State Parks system.
“These talks are in the initial stages, and no agreement has been reached. Management of Mantua Reservoir remains unchanged and resides with Brigham City,” she said. “Adding Mantua Reservoir to the Utah State Parks system was recently included in Governor Cox’s proposed budget, which serves as a recommendation to the Legislature.”
O’Rullion said the State Legislature determines if the recommendation moves forward and is funded.
“There is no timeline in place, and no agreements have been drafted,” she said. “This is an initial step toward securing funding should an agreement be reached.”
Utah State Parks will continue to work with the town of Mantua, Brigham City, Box Elder County, and other stakeholders throughout this
Newly elected Mantua Mayor Anette Ash said they haven’t discussed the State Park issue yet, but they will be in an upcoming meeting.
“It was raised during the recent legislative session, and we have been advised that it will not move forward without community support,” she said. “There are concerns and certainly potential benefits but there are also drawbacks to the idea of Mantua becoming a state park.”
They are awaiting clarification from Brigham City regarding any proposed plans or boundaries that could be included.
Ash said if the concept advances, public meetings would be held to provide residents with information and an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback. The discussion is in its early stages, and nothing has been decided yet.
Mayor Bott, recently elected to his second term guiding the affairs of Brigham City, said the city not only owns the reservoir, but the city also owns the foothills and some of the mountain east of the reservoir. They have several springs on the east side of the reservoir that supply culinary water to their city. The reservoir provides secondary water to their residents.
“We have several hundred acres, and we are continually looking to buy more ground to keep the water safe,” he said. “Both the reservoir and the multiple springs on the west side of the reservoir are assets to our city.”
Brigham City gets millions of gallons of water from the springs, and they want to keep the area undeveloped.
Bott hasn’t had a discussion with Mayor Ash yet, but he said he is supporting making Mantua reservoir a state park at this time.