Issues Paper, Central Utah Project

Page 184

ni Board of County Commissioners July 5, 1977 public opinion, while the Salt Lake County Commission receives heated complaints from citizens ranging from excessive and discrimi­natory water rates to demands for covering of open canals in neigh­borhoods. Internal complaints generated by county departments range from poor fire hydrant maintenance, inadequate hydrant pressures and poor supply which create health hazards to the need for storm water drainage facilities through the use of old canals. No entity with real regard for valley wide management of wholesale and retail culinary and agricultural supplies exists. Fragmented management produces poor planning for maximum use of agricultural water, underground waters, and culinary supplies, From my perspective as a countywide elected official, there is no rationale, other than antiquated water laws and special interest pressure, for the incredible waste of our water resources and poor utilization of our culinary distribution and canal systems. Even in a year of record low precipitation, Salt Lake Valley has sufficient water to fully meet our demands, but management and distribution systems are not adequate to provide even and balanced retail supply. In short, we have enough water for many years to come without Bonneville Unit water is institutional barriers to water supply are removed. Ultimately, every taxpayer is the loser in poor water manage­ment since taxpayers are continually drained of funds for new, and perhaps totally unnecessary federal projects. I believe that Salt Lake County should support appropriate water law and management institution reform, which will facilitate efficient culinary management and accurate agricultural supply.^ Comprehensive recommendations for reform of our management institu­tions will be contained in my final report submitted by September 1st, 1977. I also urge that Salt Lake County undertake acquisition for flood control purposes of those canals used for flood control and I strongly urge that the Salt Lake Water Conservancy District be required to disclose its plans for avoiding forfeiture of important groundwater rights which lapse on September 30, 1977. Respectfully submitted, R. PAUL VAN DAM Salt Lake County Attorney RPVD:GHK:mm