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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The legislative session starting next week will consider bills to provide seed money for the Lake Powell pipeline and Bear River water projects.
The projects are expected to cost $700 million.
Even if the legislation is approved, construction still is not likely for years -- possibly decades.
"If we don't start developing these water resources, it's going to be a limiting factor on our growth, and I think the Legislature recognizes that," said Rep. Stuart Adams, R-Layton.
"This is going to be one of the big issues of this session, without any question. These projects need to happen and they will happen," said Adams, author of the Bear River Development Act.
Proponents of the projects contend that the state's growth projections make this the time to begin planning, doing environmental assessments and making property and right of way purchases for the expected water demand.
They say this would save taxpayers millions of dollars over the long term.
"This is a good time to do this, mainly because of the lead time that will be needed for these projects," said Tage Flint, general manager of the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. "It's really about preserving our options for the future."
Critics balk at the proposed funding sources. One bill would lift the cap on the share of sales tax devoted to water projects. Another calls for a portion of future budget surpluses to go to water projects.
And environmentalists, who contend the Bear River project could damage the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, say the water development may never be needed.
The state's projections forecast water surpluses in Salt Lake County as late as 2050.
"They're trying to get a commitment for a long list of big investments, the kinds of things that will make it hard to turn the ship around later," said Merritt Frey, executive director of the Utah Rivers Council.
The Lake Powell project would create a 127-mile pipeline connecting Lake Powell and the Colorado River with the Sand Hollow Reservoir near St. George. Washington, Iron and Kane counties get water from the project.
Southern Utah water officials hope to start construction by 2015, with the pipeline operational by 2020.
The Bear River project calls for a dam and reservoir near Portage that would connect with Willard Bay and users in Box Elder, Cache, Weber, Davis and Salt Lake counties. Northern Utah water officials have targeted 2030 as a tentative completion date.
Larry Anderson, director of the Utah Division of Water Resources, says most of the initial funding these bills produce would go to the Powell pipeline.
"Then, in another 10 years, we'll re-evaluate when the Bear River project will be needed," he said. "I think there's a misperception that we're going to move right in and start doing things with Bear River. It's 30 years off. Maybe you look at (property) ownership and rights of ways, but that's about it."
Mike Jerman, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, said tapping into the general fund is contrary to how water projects usually are paid for.
"Philosophically, we believe they should be funded through user fees," he said. "User fees are still a form of taxation, but when something is as underpriced as water is in Utah, the result is overconsumption. Right now, the incentive to conserve is not as high as it could be."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
