Issues Paper, Central Utah Project

Page 165

Board of County Commissioners of Salt Lake County April 3, 1978 Page five >SS experts, analyzing their expert data, and disseminating the in­formation developed by these experts. I am watching the mono-directional planners issue self-serving statements and tax paid press releases proposed by professional advertising firms and then I am attempting to present the undiscussed alternatives to their philosophy. D. The fourth major issue raised imputes that I am single-handedly trying to destroy the free enterprise system by encour­aging the County to become more involved in water management issues. To this, I can only reply that the existing system is even farther removed from the free market system than County management. The approach being pushed by existing water managers to free enterprise includes appropriation of water by the federal government to be managed and allocated outside of the state appropriation system. This approach also involves the levying and use of tax dollars by non-elected officials to pay for water projects without regard for whom the water being developed is to be used and without public accounting as to the manner in which these dollars are spent. For instance, the residents of Salt Lake City own water rights to the best quality waters in the Valley, more operating wells than any other entity, and hold over 60,000 acre feet of reserves in Deer Creek Reservoir--enough extra water to supply the needs of 225,000 people for one year. However, they are currently paying some $905,000.00 annually to the Central Utah Water Conservancy District to build a project which will provide $120/acre foot water. At the same time, these Salt Lake City citizens sell their excess reserves at $20/acre foot. The citizens of Salt Lake County also are paying tax dollars for this project whether or not they are to receive any of the water to be developed by it. In fact, water developed by Salt Lake County tax dollars will end up generating power in Millard County for use in Southern California. If free enterprise means management and allocation by the federal government and taxation without representation, then I admit that T oppose this system. II. WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS STUDY Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City are in a position to be envied with respect to water resources. The current resource picture includes a massive underground aquifer, tremendous mountain run-off, imports from the Colorado basin, and diversions from Utah Lake. The supply is adequate, with competent and aggressive management, to sustain the growth of Salt Lake City and Salt Lake