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Show 58 BIOGRAPHY FOR MICHAEL J. HAYES Dr. Hayes joined the National Drought Mitigation Center in July 1995. He previously worked briefly with the National Biological Service, studying the impact of weather on endangered prairie plant species. Responsibilities with the NDMC include conducting research on the economic, environmental, and social impacts of drought, developing new drought monitoring and impact assessment methodologies, helping develop the NDMC's website, developing a network of drought planners, helping organize and conduct workshops and conferences, writing reports, and more. Education: Ph. D. in 1994 from the University of Missouri- Columbia in Atmospheric Science, specializing in Agricultural Meteorology and Remote Sensing. Dissertation: Utilizing Satellite Data Within a Corn Production Assessment System for the United States Corn Belt. M. S. in 1989 from the University of Missouri- Columbia in Atmospheric Science, also specializing in Agricultural Meteorology and Remote Sensing. B. S. in 1986 from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in Meteorology. Mr. CANNON. Mr. Ovard. STATEMENT OF DAVID G. OVARD, GENERAL MANAGER, JORDAN VALLEY WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT Mr. OVARD. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much for the opportunity to testify today. I am the General Manager of the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District in the State of Utah, serving 20 other entities on a wholesale basis in Salt Lake County. Our sources of supply are the following: Large subscribers for project water here in the state, major users of Provo River project water. You have substantial chlorides in the Provo and Weber Rivers, and we are also a major user of groundwater here in Salt Lake County. I would just like to comment, thank goodness for the Central Utah Project. Without that project, which you may remember 20 years ago was quite controversial, people worried it was going to cost too much, and without the Central Utah Project water this year we would be in a major more dire situation than we are. We find ourselves at present in Utah in the fourth year of the below normal precipitation. And the runoff from snow melt usually peaks at this time of the year and runs far into the summer. The runoff for the year is essentially over for most of the state. Reservoir levels are at historic lows. And you are correct, Deer Creek is at its lowest historic level since it was constructed in the 1930' s. Groundwater levels are declining throughout the valley. Soil conditions are extremely dry. The cumulative effects of four years of drought have taken their toll, and it is very unlikely that we will be able to reverse our present situation in the near future. My greater concern, though, is for the long- term situation. Utah's population is projected to grow by 70 percent over the next 30 years. Over 80 percent of this will be natural increase; that is our own children and grandchildren. It is projected that this growth will require an additional water supply of about 500,000 acre- feet or 160 billion gallons of new water per year to meet this need. In Salt Lake County, the cheap and easy way to develop water is gone. Our efforts are being complicated and compounded by concerns for the environment and water quality. We are struggling to replace old and inefficient components of our infrastructure. And in light of events of September 11th, we are also being confronted with the need to provide security for our water resources and facili- |