OCR Text |
Show feet below this level recorded in September of 1935. During the periods of lower levels extensive areas of the predominantly mud lake bottom are exposed. This situation produces undesirable impacts involving sight and smell. The action of the wind perpetually stirs up the bottom muds causing the lake water to be turbid. The problem of existing high bacterial counts has reduced the esthetic value of the swimming areas. Most sighteeers find the Utah Lake State Park esthetically pleasing. ( 6) Provo River The Provo River channel and adjacent lands between the Duchesne Tunnel and Deer Creek Reservoir are annually subjected to high spring flows as imported water from the Duchesne and Weber Rivers is used to fill the Reservoir, Together with natural spring runoff, the high flows have caused substantial erosion of the stream bottom and banks as well as flooding of adjacent lands where flood easements have been obtained,, Diking and channelizing have been used downstream from the Forest boundary to contain the flows. In order to avoid creating an artificial, sterile channel, a policy of obtaining flood easements and protection to stabilize existing banks was instituted and is still being recommended. The esthetic quality of this section of river has been and is being reduced. Present utilization of water below Deer Creek Reservoir often causes flows in the section of stream below Murdock Diversion Dam to be severely reduced during the late irrigation season. This results in the esthetically displeasing situation of a nearly dry stream channel occurring during a period when natural flows would be ordinarily higher. The 5- mile section of stream below Deer Creek Reservoir is a Class I fishery and is esthetically attractive. There are other attractive areas located along this stream. c. Without the Unit If the proposed Bonneville Unit were not constructed, many environmental changes would still occur within the Unit area. Since a plan for potential development is not available, discussion of this aspect is general. Many of these changes would alter the esthetic composition of the area and, as in the past, there would be conflicts of judgment as to whether or not the alterations detract from the existing esthetic quality. The significant increase in public concern for 157 |