A popular recreation attraction in Washington County is turning 20 years old. Sand Hollow is not only the largest reservoir in the county — it’s also the most visited state park in Utah.
The reservoir captures spring runoff from the Virgin River and stores it for drier months and even years, like in 2021. Zach Renstrom, the general manager for the county’s water district, said its importance to the residents of Washington County can’t be overstated.
“If you’ve moved here in the last 20 years … The only reason why you’re able to do that is because of Sand Hollow Reservoir,” he said. “If it wasn’t for Sand Hollow Reservoir being constructed, we would have ran out of water, it’s as simple as that.”
Almost all of Utah’s water supply comes from mountain snowpack that’s stored in the state’s reservoirs. Last year, Renstrom said southwest Utah had one of the lowest runoffs ever, but the storage capacity at Sand Hollow guaranteed there would be enough drinking water for people.
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This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aim to inform readers across the state.
