Citizens for a Responsible Central Utah Project, correspondence, 1979

Page 36

basis of being able to provide irrigation water associated with this Provo River development in the Provo River area, (Ln lieu of transporting It to the Utah Lake area where the water for isrygation is to be saved for irrigation by saving water from evaporation as a consequence of diking off the mar she sj, the Bureau now will be releasing a Draft EIS on the proposed Jordanelle/Provo River M & I System while excluding this Utah Lake Irrigation System from consideration in this whole project development. The justification told CRCUP members and the Sierra Club for this procedure is based on a Sierra Club/Natural Resources Defense Council suit of 1973. Is this legal? Additional ramifications have developed as a consequence of CRCUP charges to the Bureau of Reclamation that it cannot dike off Utah Lake marshes and still comply with Executive Order § 11990 to protect Wetlands. There Is a great deal of professional concern emerging In Utah about the proposed alteration of Utah Lake's unique limnology and biological resources. Diking off Provo Bay to convert and maintain that as irrigated farm lands, at the same time that farmers are selling water rights to irrigated lands nearby in the Nephi/Delta area, raises questions about the validity of the need for irrigation water from the Strawberry Collection System , the real purpose for this System which is only now becoming apparent, and the possibility of Project re-authori­zation if the Utah Lake Irrigation System is ultimately eliminated. If the Bureau is able to proceed with develop­ment of the Jordanelle-Provo River M & I System before it is determined that the Utah Lake Irrigation System cannot be implemented, will the Bonneville Unit be too far along in development (20$ now) that re-authorization, which might be required, would be overriden? There are other serious issues developing from problems of compliance with the Clean Water Act, and State classification of non-degradation of National Forest streams, and implementation by the Federal Agencies involved in water issues,of the President's Water Policy. As an authorized Project, is the Bureau of Reclamation Independent of more recent existing laws and regulations? Citizens for a Responsible CUP would appreciate any light you can provide us on these issues. Very truly yours, Dorothy Harvey f Co-Chairman Citizens for a Responsible CUP