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LOGAN — After a Logan family was killed by a canal break in 2009, the Logan canal has undergone major improvements and construction which have almost been completed. However, the project has brought controversy and a pending lawsuit.
The construction on the Logan canal began in October 2012 and will be completed in May 2013. The major issues driving the project are to have improved safety for the city and the need to channel the water to communities for irrigation.
However, several homeowners feel that the canal construction is changing the face of Logan. They have filed a lawsuit for $25 million and asked a judge to put a stop to the project.
The once flowing stream is now a dirt, covered trench, and homeowners said they want the canal restored to its previous state.
"We grew up in the community with what's here, and now it's taken so easily," homeowner Marlow Goble said.
Goble is one of several homeowners who fought to keep the visual aesthetics of the water, but the construction has moved the canal underground running through pipelines.
"We feel about it, in this neighborhood, in this part of the city the same way as if you'd have taken the Logan River and decided you want to put it in a pipe," Goble said.
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Despite the protests, county leaders said changes had to be made after a branch of the canal broke in July 2009 and killed three people by washing a home away.
"It's a good thing for the conservation of water, for the long-term future of Cache County," said Val Potter, Chairman of the Cache County Council.
Potter said by putting the water flow underground, it would prevent the type of leakage that led to the 2009 break. He also said he understands the concerns of the homeowners and that efforts were made to keep parts of the canal in the original form.
"We've done a lot within the project to restore back some existing channel features," said JUB Engineering manager, Zan Murray.
A smaller waterway will also be added to the top of the canal through the Castle Hills subdivision, but Goble said he feels the residents have lost their battle.
"We can live with what we're compromised," he said. "We're not happy with it. This was really shoved down our throat."
The judge is expected to make a decision in the coming week.
