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MINUTES OF THE

STATE WATER DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

Tuesday, April 21, 1998 - 2:00 p.m. - Room 403 State Capitol



Members Present:
    Sen. John P. Holmgren, Cochair
    Rep. Evan L. Olsen, Cochair
    Sen. Leonard M. Blackham
    Sen. Joseph L. Hull
    Rep. James R. Gowans
    Rep. J.W. "Bill" Hickman
    Rep. Bradley T. Johnson
    Rep. Brad King
    Ms. Jan Ellen Burton
    Mr. Tom Christensen
    Ms. Kathleen Clarke
    Mr. John Davis (representing
        Ivin Flint)
    Ms. Natalie Gochnour
    Mr. Irvin Haws
    Mr. Dallin Jensen
    Mr. Cary Peterson
    Mr. Thorpe Waddingham

Members Excused:
    Sen. Mike Dmitrich

Members Absent:
    Mr. Don Christiansen
    Mr. Thad Erickson
    Ms. Dianne Nielson
    Mr. Sam Taylor
    Mr. Ron Thompson

Staff Present:
    Ms. Constance C. Steffen,
        Research Analyst
    Ms. Jeanenne B. Larson,
        Associate General Counsel
    Ms. Joy L. Miller,
        Secretary

     Note:    A list of others present and a copy of materials distributed in the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.


1.    Committee Business - Chairman Olsen called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m. Members of the committee introduced themselves.

     MOTION: Rep. Hickman moved to approve the minutes of July 17, 1997. The motion passed unanimously.

2.    Water Supply Update - Mr. Ray Wilson, Natural Resources Conservation Service, distributed the April 1st report on water supply and snowpack. He reviewed the average basin streamflow forecasts for the state. The snowpack for various basins has continued to rise. Snowpack in the north is considerably higher than in 1983. Temperatures and additional precipitation will impact potential flooding.

    Sen. Holmgren pointed out that if there is a major storm, the causeway would be lost as well as a good share of the wildlife refuges around the Great Salt Lake. He said a decision should be made regarding at what level the pumps should be used.

    Mr. Dennis Strong, Division of Water Resources, indicated it is up to the Legislature and the governor to determine when to pump. It is important to be pumping in advance of the peak elevation; however, the division does not expect the lake to rise more than a couple of feet higher than its current level. He said the cost of dredging a channel to the pumps would be approximately $10 million.

    Sen. Holmgren recommended that this issue be a study item for the appropriate interim committee.

3.    Sunset of State Water Development Commission - Ms. Steffen distributed a copy of the original bill creating the commission. The commission is scheduled to sunset on December 31, 1998. She read the duties of the commission as outlined in the legislation.

    Mr. Frank Nishiguchi, Bear River Water Conservancy District, recommended that the commission be reauthorized to continue to address the needs of the state.

     MOTION: Sen. Blackham moved to reauthorize the commission and expand its charge to include the consideration of environmental issues related to water use and water development. He requested that the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee draft the appropriate legislation. The motion passed unanimously.

4.    Environment Education - Dr. Don Daugs, discussed the Utah core curriculum for science which contains standards that are specific to water. Statewide test results show students are performing below the standard level. Dr. Daugs was critical of current teaching practices that use anthropomorphism to teach environmental science. He said that some research indicates that by using anthropomorphism, society is producing young adults who decide environmental issues based on emotion rather than scientific fact. He recommended that basic science activities that satisfy requirements with regard to water education be included in the state standards and state resource guide.

    Rep. King suggested having people with a science background spend time on inservice training of teachers.

    Ms. Gayen Wharton, teacher, stated she provides teacher training for Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) and Project Learning Tree. She said the state should be helping with the training in order for teachers to obtain a well-rounded, broad-based background in natural resource, water, and wildlife issues.

    Mr. Paul Gillette, Division of Water Resources, indicated the division wants teachers and students to understand that there are things that need to be used and developed as a resource for

the nation. He said it is the job of the division to provide teachers with balanced training.

    Ms. Suzanne Flory, Division of Water Resources, explained the Project WET book is given to teachers after they take a 12-hour workshop. It helps them learn about all aspects of water. However, it is not the only resource available for teachers.

5.    H.B. 418, "Water Conservation Plan" - Rep. Judy Ann Buffmire explained the bill was an attempt to get those involved in water to consider conservation. Each retail water provider will be required to develop a conservation plan. Those entities that already have plans in place are required to review their plans. The plans are to be completed by April 1, 1999, and presented to the Board of Water Resources. If the process proves to be useful, she hopes the legislation will be amended to require ongoing water conservation planning.

    Mr. Gillette indicated the division will write a letter explaining what the law requires and will mail it to all retail water suppliers in the state.

    Mr. Kevin Brown, Division of Drinking Water, explained the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act that was reauthorized in 1996 has a requirement for water conservation in it. Unfortunately the federal guidelines have not been published yet. He indicated they will meet with Mr. Gillette once those guidelines are available.

6.    Water Development Funding - Mr. Strong distributed two handouts on water project construction. He stated the Revolving Construction Fund and Cities Water Loan Fund will have enough money for projects in 1999. The Conservation and Development Fund currently has $8 million; however, there are $13 million in requests for projects. Mr. Strong briefly reviewed the list of dams that are in compliance, those that are under construction, and those that have been told to begin preparing plans and specifications.

    Mr. Brown distributed funding information for the Division of Drinking Water. He said funding for the State Drinking Water Board programs comes in three forms: 1) sales tax; 2) loan repayments; and 3) federal grants. The division has $16.2 million available for FY 98. The division's current project list includes 92 projects anticipated to cost $98 million.

7.    Water Development Update - Rep. Gowans stated the Wendover project is still ongoing.

    Rep. Johnson stated the Fremont River dam is an important issue. The state should study the possibility of making underground water flows into the Colorado available to the state.

    Sen. Hull indicated the destructive forces of drainage into the Great Salt Lake should be

considered. The lower Weber River needs to be dredged and have canals cut to prevent flooding of farming areas in the county.

    Mr. Davis stated the Weber Basin and Salt Lake County Water Conservancy Districts are continuing with the Bear River project development. Property was purchased in West Haven and Weber County to build a water treatment plant. They signed a memorandum of understanding with Park City and Summit County to supply them with 6,600 acre feet of water.

    Ms. Burton stated more emphasis should be given to consideration of the downstream effects of new projects, project costs, and long-term considerations.

    Sen. Blackham stated the Narrows project is becoming closer to reality. The commission could try to reduce the procedures and processes that each project must go through in an effort to avoid spending millions of dollars before deciding a project will be built.

    Ms. Gochnour discussed the Quality Growth Initiative. It is part of Envision Utah which is a public/private partnership. Workshops that develop scenarios about future urban growth in the area will begin next month. She recommended the issue be on the next commission agenda.

    Mr. Jensen stated in Salt Lake the big project is the Bear River project. He indicated the state will continue to see the conversion of agriculture water for municipal and industrial use on the Wasatch Front.

    Mr. Haws noted there are four projects in the basin that the conservancy district is helping with: 1) the completion of the dam in Red Wash; 2) the Liota Bench project which will take water out of Green River; 3) the Sadler Dam; and 4) the Reach 3 project that will move water from Red Fleet to the other side of the valley.

    Commissioner Peterson stated the coordinated resource management of the Clover Creek drainage is an important project to rid the area of the monoculture of juniper trees. Watershed management practices around the state will yield quality water and put water in places where it is useful.

8.    Clean Water Initiatives - Commissioner Peterson indicated Congress is paying close attention to water quality and nonpoint source pollution. There have been hearings across the United States on how to control nonpoint source pollution. He advised that Utah's best watersheds are its agricultural lands and range lands and advocated the use of incentive-based programs to gain the cooperation of landowners to control nonpoint source pollution. He distributed a handout entitled, "Strategy for Addressing Environmental and Public Health Impacts from Animal Feeding Operations."

9.    Other Business - Sen. Holmgren stated a report of the Western Water Review Advisory Commission has been completed. He asked Mr. Gillette to report on it at the next meeting.

    Sen. Blackham requested that individuals involved with the Fremont Dam be asked to give a presentation to the commission on what is being proposed.

    Sen. Holmgren said the Quality Growth Initiative will be placed on the next agenda. He stated the commission will also hear a report from the Salt Lake County Water Conservancy District and Weber Basin Water Conservancy District on where they are with the Bear River project.

     MOTION: Sen. Blackham moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:35 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

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