Anticipated Pineview Reservoir level on September 1, 2026. (click to enlarge)

Anticipated Pineview Reservoir level on September 15, 2026. (click to enlarge)

Pineview Drawdown Update.doc
By The Ogden Valley News Staff - 28 August 2026
 
In the coming weeks, Pineview Reservoir's landscape will take on a very dramatic change of its shoreline. Ogden City will install a new buried pipeline beneath Pineview Reservoir during the 2026 drawdown.
 
Construction on the installation of a 48-inch HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene pipe) pipeline is set to begin October 1. This work is being advanced from the originally planned 2027 to 2028 timeframe due to historically low snowpack conditions and to coordinate with other reservoir projects occurring during the drawdown. The project will improve reliability for Ogden City's water system by installing a new 48-inch HDPE pipeline and rehabilitating the existing 36-inch pipeline. The existing line serves a well field that supplies more than half of Ogden City's water. Whitaker Construction will begin staging assets, materials, and aggregate in the Port Ramp area with minimal traffic interruption.
 
Pineview Reservoir will continue being drawn down from approximately 21,788 acre-feet toward a target of roughly 5,000 acre-feet of storage, which is approximately 1.7% of total reservoir capacity. Reservoir levels are expected to remain near that target until construction activities are complete.
 
According to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), there will be no fish kill off happening with less water in the reservoir. The extra water being lowered is not being lost, as it is going into Willard Bay. Work on the pipeline must be completed by January of 2027 to allow refilling of Pineview Reservoir; however, there will be continued work until spring 2027.
 
We have a unique opportunity to see the reservoir bottom as never before. Many have already been seen walking with metal detectors to find treasures, and horses with riders are enjoying new areas. This can also be a productive opportunity to clean up trash from the reservoir bottom, though visitors should note that there are restrictions on motorized vehicle use. With the drawdown of Pineview Reservoir, we have a unique chapter to add to this unprecedented event.
 
This serves as a call to action regarding cleaning up Pineview in an unprecedented year of weather—one that we will tell our grandchildren about.
 
The historic drawdown is also paving the way for additional infrastructure improvements. Derek Johnson of Sunrise Engineering shared that the Forest Service is pursuing separate port access and boat ramp improvements while reservoir levels are low at Windsurfer Beach and the Port Ramp marina. These improvements aim to provide increased accessibility, elongate the boat ramp, and lengthen the season. The Forest Service will close the active construction area and restrict motorized access to the exposed reservoir bed. Other public access opportunities may remain available, subject to posted restrictions and the protection of project facilities and resources.
 
In addition to the construction and access updates, visitors should also be aware of current water quality advisories. Harmful algal blooms, which produce toxins that can make humans and animals sick, have been found at Pineview Reservoir and Lost Creek Reservoir, according to the Weber-Morgan Health Department. Officials strongly advise against drinking the water; swimming, wading, or jet/water skiing; and paddling in areas of algae. Boating and fishing are still permitted, but individuals should discard the skin and guts of any caught fish.
 
For full project details and updates, residents can visit ogdencitypipeline.com.

For more information on harmful algal blooms, visit the Utah Department of Environmental Quality recreational water quality website.