Box Elder Data Center (Stratos) Water Rights Protests

In April 2026, FRIENDS learned of two water right change applications associated with the Stratos/Wonder Valley data center project in Box Elder County.

Change Application a54385 proposed to convert an existing agricultural water right — 1,900 acre-feet per year from Salt Wells Spring Stream in Hansel Valley, Box Elder County — from irrigation use to industrial use for a natural gas power plant and data center under the project name "Wonder Valley."

Salt Wells Spring Stream feeds into the same hydrological system as Locomotive Springs Wildlife Management Area — a state-managed wetland 2 miles from the project site that has already lost 80% of its spring flow to groundwater pumping.

Change Application a54536 proposed to convert an existing water right — 11 acre-feet per year of spring water in Hansel Valley, Box Elder County — from ranching/domestic use to industrial use for a natural gas power plant and data center also under the project name "Wonder Valley."

The project's technical representative publicly claimed they would need 3,000 AF on-site and 10,000 AF near Snowville. The State Engineer should not approve any of these individual applications without a complete water budget for the proposed development.

FRIENDS filed a protest against the first change application on April 30, 2026. 

In May 2026, the Stratos/Wonder Valley data center project WITHDREW both water rights change applications filed with the Utah Division of Water Rights. This came after a record-breaking number of Utahns filed protests against them.

However, the developers have continued to seek water rights for the project.

Read our protest.

Key Points:

• This application lacks sufficient detail about proposed water consumption.
• Approval of this application would increase depletion, impair existing water rights, and impair the more beneficial use of preserving Great Salt Lake.
• There is no evidence that the proposed plan is physically or economically feasible.
• The proposed use will be detrimental to public welfare.

You don't need to be a lawyer. It takes about 5 minutes. There is a $15 filing fee.

There is a $15.00 filing fee to submit a protest online. Have a credit or debit card ready before you start.

Step 1: Go to the Utah Division of Water Rights protest portal. The direct URL for filing is: https://waterrights.utah.gov/protestOfApplication/protestOfApplication.asp

Step 2: In the first field — "Water Right, Change, or Exchange Number" — type exactly: a55167

Step 3: Click the "Get Info" button. The form will auto-populate the "Action to be protested" field with the application details. Confirm it shows Change Application a55167.

Step 4: Fill in your personal information:

• First Name — Your first name
• Last Name (or Company Name) — Your last name — or your organization's name if filing on behalf of a group
• Care Of — Leave blank unless filing on behalf of someone else
• Mailing Address — Your street address
• City, State, Zip — Your city, state, and zip code
• Phone — Your phone number
• Email Address — Your email address — you'll receive a confirmation here

Step 5: For "Are you requesting a hearing?" — select YES. This is important. Selecting Yes preserves your right to participate if the State Engineer schedules a formal hearing on this application. You are not committing to attend — you are preserving your option to do so.

Step 6: In the "Please state your reasons for protesting" box, type your protest statement. See the talking points section below — copy and paste any of those statements, or write your own. The box accepts plain text. You do not need legal language.

Step 7: If you want to attach a PDF (optional), you can upload one using the "Choose File" button. Most people don't need to do this — your written statement is sufficient.

Step 8: Check the electronic signature box at the bottom.

Step 9: Click "Continue to Payment" and pay the $15.00 filing fee. Once payment is confirmed, your protest letter will be generated. Print or save it for your records. Your protest is not complete until payment is confirmed.

The process is NOT complete until payment is confirmed and the protest letter is generated. If you stop before the payment step, your protest has not been filed.

If you prefer not to pay the online fee, you can email your comment as a Letter of Concern directly to the Division:

Email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Subject line: Protest — Change Application a55167

Include: Your full name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and your protest statement. State whether you are requesting a hearing (yes is recommended).

Note: Email protests may take longer to process. File as early as possible.

We suggest using this Protest template created by Tim Blackham and Jared Parkinson with Water Law PC. Fill it out, then copy it into your written statement or upload it as a PDF attachment.

Shorter version (copy and paste this if you want to keep it simple):

"I protest Change Application a55167. The proposed water use for a multi-gigawatt power plant and data center is not adequately described or justified in the application. Source springs in this area are connected to Locomotive Springs Wildlife Management Area — a declining spring-fed wetland on the north shore of the Great Salt Lake that has already lost 80% of its flow to groundwater pumping. I request the State Engineer require a complete water budget and independent hydrological analysis before approving this change. I am requesting a hearing."