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Show 75 Since future water development would clearly become more complicated and costly, state agencies tended to rely more on the federal government as developer and financier, and state efforts to participate directly in development were de- emphasized. The state continued in its role as the regulator and planner for water resource development. In addition, it established policy and organizations that would help attract federal dollars. These organizations facilitated the coordination of development efforts in Utah as well as met new needs in the area of urban water development and flood control. Changing Management Framework It is important to be aware that the process by which the. federal government became a primary force in water development took place over many years. We have seen how early federal land laws prompted the establishment of the State Land Board and other early agencies. While in one sense this contributed to the development of the state's water managing machinery, in another it heralded the growing importance of the federal government. Indeed, the state may be said to have begun the process of withdrawing from direct development of water as early as 1903, when the Arid Land Reclamation Fund Commission was established as a response to the federal Reclamation Act of 1902.7 Though the commission functioned for only two years before it was abolished, it had identified projects that were later built by the Bureau of Reclamation. 8 The State Conservation Commission was established in 1909, modeled in some degree after the Arid Land Commission. 9 It was aimed at increasing Utah's ability to attract federal reclamation and water development dollars to the state. 10 Governor William Spry stressed this point in his executive address to the legislature: 11 There is need of a more careful conservation of the natural resources of our country. The creation of a State commission for that purpose is now a necessity; which commision should co- operate with the federal government and inquire into the condition of our natural resources; prevent as far as possible the waste and destruction of the natural wealth of the State, and promote the greatest good to the greatest numbers in the use thereof; . . . conserve and develop the water supply, and generally do everything possible in the way of conserving the natural resources of the State and the nation. Between 1917 ( when the Conservation Commission was abolished) and 1921, the state apparently had no agency that was directly charged with the overall responsibility of water 7State of Utah, Laws of the State of Utah ( 1903), Chapter 71, pp 60- 61. 8The Strawberry being the most notable project proposed by the Utah Arid Land Reclamation Fund Commission. ' State of Utah, Laws of the State of Utah ( 1909), Chapter 103, pp 224- 225. 10Ibid., Section 4. pp 224- 225. 11 William Spry, " Executive Message to the Eighth Session of the Legislature of Utah," Public Documents, p 37. Date of address January 12th, 1909. Emphasis added. |
