
Here's a story, from the St. George Spectrum, about a proposed pipeline from Lake Powell to southern Utah. The project is interesting technically and legally. The water would be moved from a lower basin state (Arizona) back up to an upper basin state (Utah). It would be Utah's water of course but ...
From the article, "Senate Bill 27, sponsored by Sen. Tom Hatch, R-Panguitch, cleared the Legislature and is awaiting the governor's signature for the 120-mile pipeline that will stretch from the south end of Lake Powell, through Kanab and Fredonia, Ariz., and then back into Utah, pumping water into the Sand Hollow Reservoir. It is anticipated to generate 74,000 acre-feet of water a year for Southern Utah communities whose population rate is growing at three times the national average.
"Cost estimates for the project are $500 million, but no state money has been appropriated because the two bills that allocate state subsidies from either the general fund or revenue from sales tax - House Bill 47, sponsored by P. Knudson, and Senate Bill 39, sponsored by Rep. Mike Noel, Kanab - are awaiting committee action.
"The combination of property taxes, impact and users fees - and hopefully state funding - are expected to pay for the project that is estimated to be completed in the next 10 to 15 years, servicing a projected population of more than 600,000. In the interim, two strategies must be put into effect to best utilize the water resources currently available: conservation and wider treatment of wastewater for reuse for irrigation and agricultural purposes.
"Both plans must take effect long before the first drop of water runs through the Lake Powell pipeline. Residents must not rely on the pipeline or take for granted that it is coming. Though some may quibble that the pipeline will be an astronomical expense with an increase in property taxes, it will cost just has [sic] much without it when a scarce commodity becomes equally pricey with limited supply and high demand from a larger population."
Category: Colorado Water
5:57:36 AM
|
|