State looks at adding 700+ beds at CUCF, but Gunnison asks, ‘Is there enough water?’

GUNNISON—Gunnison officials told Utah Department of Corrections leaders Wednesday, Oct. 14, that protecting the city's water supply and future population growth must be considered in any proposed expansion of the Central Utah Correctional Facility (CUCF).

During a work meeting with the Gunnison City Council, corrections officials outlined plans to address a growing statewide prison population, including a possible expansion of approximately 768 beds at the Gunnison facility.

Although the state has identified Gunnison as a potentially cost-effective location, officials emphasized that no final decision has been made.

Utah Department of Corrections Commissioner Jared Garcia said the state is running out of prison capacity faster than anticipated. Earlier projections indicated the state could exhaust its available beds around 2029, but updated estimates place that point in mid to late 2028.

"I don't know if it's absolutely finalized that this will be the place yet," Garcia said, explaining that Gunnison offers advantages because of its existing infrastructure and relatively stable staffing.

Jeff Mottishaw, the department's director of finance and administrative operations, explained that one expansion concept would add three housing units within the prison's existing secured perimeter.

The facility was originally designed with a central housing complex and space for additional units. Completing those sections could provide approximately 768 beds, approaching the roughly 800 additional beds the state expects to need.

However, Mottishaw said the project would require more than housing. The prison would also need expanded culinary, medical, visitation, recreation and rehabilitation facilities to accommodate the larger population.

The state is also considering alternatives, including a separate women's correctional facility in the Salt Lake City area. Such a project could free existing space at the Utah State Correctional Facility on the west side of the city for additional male inmates.

Another possibility discussed during the meeting would combine a women's facility with a smaller expansion of approximately 280 beds at Gunnison.

None of those options has received final approval.

Water supply concerns

Water emerged as the primary concern for Gunnison officials.

Kelly Chappell of Ensign Engineering, the city’s consulting engineering firm, told the group that CUCF already accounts for approximately 50% to 53% of the culinary water consumed by Gunnison City.

That demand level raises difficult questions about how to accommodate hundreds of additional inmates while preserving sufficient water for residential, commercial and industrial development, he said.

Chappell said Gunnison's existing water distribution infrastructure is generally in good condition but developing dependable water sources and acquiring sufficient water rights present challenges.

"It's just getting the source water, having the rights for the source water and getting it to the system," Chappell said.

Gunnison is currently developing a major new well, Tarr Canyon Well, which has been projected to nearly double the city’s water supply. However, Chappell cautioned even that additional water might not be sufficient if the state proceeds with a major prison expansion.

He said the city has identified locations for additional water development and acquired property for future sources, but those improvements would require further investment. Water rights also remain expensive and difficult to obtain.

Mayor Mike Wanner emphasized that simply having enough water rights to accommodate an expansion would not resolve the city's long-term concerns.

He stressed that Gunnison must preserve enough water capacity to accommodate future housing, businesses and industry rather than commit its available resources entirely to the prison.

Councilman Kim Pickett expressed similar concerns.

"We don't want to stretch our resources to where we don't have ample supply for future growth in the town of Gunnison because we don't want Gunnison just to be a prison," Pickett said.

Tarr Canyon project and infrastructure

Participants in the meeting mentioned the city had already received $5.5 million in state funding for Tarr Canyon through the Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM), along with $5 million in federal funding secured with assistance from U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens.

Chappell explained that the funding supports multiple phases of the project, including developing and equipping the well, and constructing the pipeline needed to bring water into Gunnison.

Officials also raised questions about the city's wastewater system.

Gunnison and Centerfield share wastewater treatment lagoons and are pursuing a joint wastewater master plan. Chappell said additional engineering analysis would be necessary to determine whether the existing treatment facilities and sewer lines could accommodate increased demand from the prison.

The meeting did not establish how much additional wastewater capacity is currently available.

Meanwhile, City Manager Dennis Marker noted that CUCF currently uses as much drinking water per inmate bed as a typical single-family home in the city.

Corrections officials discussed water conservation measures being implemented at state facilities, including irrigation improvements, reduced water use in landscaping and more efficient plumbing fixtures.

City representatives requested comparisons between water consumption at CUCF and the newer Salt Lake City correctional facility to help determine how conservation measures could affect future demand.

Funding and community impacts

The potential prison expansion remains in the planning stages.

Mottishaw said early estimates placed the cost of a full expansion at approximately $390 million, although updated estimates are being developed.

The 2026 Legislature established a restricted prison expansion fund that officials said had grown to approximately $126.5 million. About $8 million was designated for DFCM to conduct additional planning and evaluation.

The available funding would not cover the full estimated cost. Further legislation would be required before a major expansion could move forward.

Corrections officials said a full expansion could create approximately 230 new corrections jobs, along with 20 to 60 positions in correctional health services.

Council members discussed potential benefits to local medical providers, including opportunities for Gunnison Hospital to provide services to inmates, reducing the need for transportation to more distant facilities.

Wanner acknowledged the prison's importance to the community and expressed appreciation for the longstanding relationship between Gunnison and the Department of Corrections.

"We love the partnership. We want to keep that partnership. We love that the prison's here," Wanner said.

He emphasized, however, that the city must carefully evaluate the effects of additional growth on its infrastructure.

Further planning needed

Corrections representatives said DFCM, which is overseeing the expansion study, would participate in additional discussions with Gunnison officials.

Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Brown said she and Mottishaw would raise the city's concerns with DFCM and seek another meeting involving with the city before the next Legislature.

Additional work would include evaluating water demand, water rights, conservation measures and the capacity of existing infrastructure under different expansion scenarios.

State officials also expect more detailed construction cost estimates as planning progresses.