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Show construction of Interstate Highway 1- 15? studies were made to determine if the lands situated between I- 15 and the UPRR tracks could still be included in the Bonneville Unit plan. From these studies, it was concluded that the presently irrigated lands west of 1- 15 could be given a supplemental supply from Unit development, enabling the existing water supply to be exchanged to lands east of 1- 15. Most of the presently irrigated land in the bay area obtains part of its irrigation supply from groundwater sources. The Bonneville Unit drainage system would reduce this source of water supply. Therefore, the surface water supply would be increased by exchange from the Bonneville Unit. With Provo Bay drained, it might be feasible to extend the Unit drainage system to include the lands recently acquired by Brigham Young University. With an economical drainage system for these lands, the university's plans for an industrial park might be realized. The flows of the Ironton Mill Drain now flowing into the bay would be diverted into the main collector as part of the present plan. Alternative studies were made to determine the optimum location for the Provo Bay Canal. Two of these alternatives are as follows: ( l) Diversion would be made from the lake north of the Provo Airport to a canal that would circumscribe the bay in a clockwise direction. ( 2) Diversion would be made from the lake on the south side of the Provo Airport to a canal which would also circumscribe the bay in a clockwise direction. The selected plan for the canal ( Fig. A- 25) was determined to be more feasible. Studies were also made to determine the economic feasiblity of diverting Provo Bay area peripheral inflow into the Provo Bay Canal for irrigation of project lands. Studies were also made to determine the feasibility of diverting the sewage treatment plant effluent from several points around the bay into the Provo Bay Bypass Canal for conveyance to Utah Lake instead of picking it up in the open drains. Both of these possibilities would cost more to . construct than the proposed plan. The environmental impacts of converting the bay area to an agricultural development are discussed in Section C. An alternative development considered for Provo Bay is its use as a managed waterfowl area or refuge. Consultation with the State Division of Wildlife 616 |