Issues Paper, Central Utah Project

Page 36

37. Question Should the nation's public be expected to subsidize the enormously complicated and extensive arid unending water developments for Utah? Question How much new, high quality water will be required to develop how much energy to pump the developed water to where it is needed when it is needed and at what cost? U.S. Highway 91 from York Ridge at the northern end of the county to the town of Nephi. Strawberry Reservoir water released through Diamond Fork Power System during the nonirrigation season will be stored in Utah Lake, the proposed Hayes Reservoir, the proposed enlarged Mona Resevoir, and the existing Sevier Bridge Reservoir for later use during the irrigation season. Summer season releases through the power system will mostly be used directly for irrigation, with a small amount for municipal and industrial purposes. Diamond Fork, Spanish Fork River, Wasatch Aqueduct, Mona-Nephi Canal, Nephi-Sevier Canal, and Sevier River will convey water from the power plants and reservoirs to lands in Utah, Juab, and Millard Counties and by exchange to Sanpete and Sevier Counties. Wasach Aqueduct will extend southwest from the Dyne Powerplant to York Ridge-the divide between Utah and Juab Counties. Mona-Nephi Canal will continue south from York Ridge to Nephi. During the nonirrigation season some water will be released from Mona-Nephi Canal for storage in Mona Reservoir, and will be pumped back to the canal by Mona Pumping Plant during periods of peak irrigation demands. At Nephi water will be pumped by Nephi Pumping Plant from Mona-Nephi Canal to Nephi-Sevier Canal, which will continue to the existing Sevier Bridge Reservoir. Sevier River augmentation will be regulated and delivered to points of use by existing facilities. The average top width of these canals will range from 20 to 42 feet and the average depth from 3.5 to 7.0 feet. Water depth and velocity will range from 1.7 to 4.5 feet and 1.5 to 2.1 feet per second, respectively. The Mosida Canal, with two pumping plants, will serve the Mosida area west of Utah Lake. The reclaimed Provo Bay area will be served by the potential Provo Bay pumping plants, canals, and laterals. Springville and Provo Bay Bypass Canals will route flood flows around Springville and Provo Bay Dike. Beer Creek Canal and Pumping Plant will convey drain water of Beer Creek and Provo Bay areas into Utah Lake. The enlarged Elberta Canal will serve the Elberta area with water from the enlarged Mona Reservoir.