A massive wildfire followed by heavy rains greatly damaged the landscape of a Utah valley, home to the Skull Valley Band of the Goshute Indian Tribe. The natural disasters broke water delivery systems and disrupted vital community infrastructure.

Recently, the band’s leadership met with USDA officials to find solutions on how they could recover and prevent future flooding events.

At a StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity meeting held in Tooele near the reservation, Tribal Chairwoman Lori Bear and Vice Chairwoman Kristen Bear-Stewart took the opportunity to share with USDA Under Secretary Robert Bonnie and Deputy Under Secretary Ann Bartuska some challenges they face on the reservation. The USDA officials also toured the flood-damaged area.

“We need water for our crops and our buffalo herd,” Bear said.

Bonnie talked about how the tribe could seek Emergency Watershed Protection Program funding through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. With this funding, water diversions and catchment basins could be constructed and installed that would divert flood waters from the restored irrigation delivery systems.