OCR Text |
Show 154 Utah's Democratic Senator, Frank E. Moss, requested that the National Park Service survey the Great Salt Lake as a potential National Park site. The results of that preliminary survey were mildly favorable of such a proposal On January 25, 1960, during the second session of the 86th Congress, Senator Moss introduced his Bill S. 2894, authorizing the establishment of a Great Salt Lake National Park. The bill was unsuccessful because most people felt the Great Salt Lake should be developed locally first, and only resisted action by the Federal Government unless local efforts at development of a State Park were made first and failed. In the 89th Congress, Senator Moss changed course slightly and introduced Bill S. 25, authorizing the establishment of a Great Salt Lake National Monument on Antelope Island. Again, the bill failed to garner support and eventually died a quiet death. In the 90th Congress, Senator Moss reintroduced his bill to establish a national monument. His supporters were those who wanted federal money coming into Utah as well as the protection and preservation of a unique national resource. His opposition, led by Utah's Republican Senator, Wallace F. Bennett, came principally from those concerned that the single purpose of a national park or monument might inhibit development of minerals and other valuable assets, possibly even restricting upstream development of the tributaries to maintain a specified lake water level. Senator Moss was unable to gain enough support for his bill and it died as had his others. In 1963, the Utah State Legislature passed a measure creating the Great Salt Lake Authority, whose purpose was to formulate plans for the future development of the Great Salt Lake. In the late 1960' s, the Great Salt Lake Authority was one of the driving forces behind the establishment |