Covering those canals with solar panels would reduce evaporation, avoid using other land for solar farms and reduce aquatic weed and algae growth, saving on maintenance costs, McKuin said.

“The Weber Basin Water Conservancy District will cover existing canals with canal-spanning solar panel structures in the upper portion of the Layton Canal,” the release said.

In partnership with the state’s Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), the US Army Corps of Engineers has devised a plan to cover some open waterways with solar panels to stave off evaporation and ...