Utah's growing population will need more water
Experts looking at strategies to extend resources
These factors have led some to argue water availability should be used as a way to control population growth, an approach rejected by the state Division of Water Resources.
"We believe our assignment is to provide water for the growth that the governor's office is projecting," said Dennis Strong, the division's deputy director.
The state can meet expected water needs through the next 50 years, but that will require several strategies, he added in an interview Tuesday during a two-day symposium sponsored by the Western Governors Association and the Western States Water Council. Possible ways to provide more water include conservation, conversion of agricultural water and new developments, he said.
The meeting, which ends Wednesday at the Little America Hotel, has attracted water regulators from throughout the West as well as representatives of federal agencies.
Additional water could become available if some water-using industries close down.
With the shutdown of Geneva Steel, that major industry no longer requires the considerable water it once used. New light industries and residential developments are possible at the Geneva site.
Geneva's water "is available for somebody," Strong said.
Also, a year ago, Kennecott spokesman Louis Cononelos said that, realistically, the company has about 10 more years of open-pit mining although Kennecott is trying to find ways to extend that. The company could take the mine underground, and Cononelos hopes Kennecott will be around in 100 years.
But some of the water Kennecott needs for its open-pit mining also might be freed for other purposes, according to Strong.
More water savings will come because of conservation, he said.
"Utah has responded to the drought," Strong added. "We've got 15 percent reduction" in water use over the past five years.
About 450,000 acre-feet might be saved this way alone, he said.
Converting agricultural land to residential neighborhoods also will mean a change in water use. As much as 264,000 acre-feet could be affected over the next 50 years.
These changes from farmland to homes will mostly affect Utah, Salt Lake, Weber and Davis counties, he believes.
"A lot of agricultural ground is going to have houses on it, all along the (Wasatch) Front," Strong said.
With quarter-acre home lots, water used for irrigating alfalfa is about equal to the amount of water needed by a family in a year. Families don't let land lie fallow from time to time, so they tend to use more water over the long run. Still, conversion can reduce the need for new water.
Comments
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Probe of death treated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Taylorsville man arrested in robbery 1:21 a.m.
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love' 1:20 a.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz down Oklahoma City
- 2 Tooele police officers fired
- BYU professor to work on Hebrew Bible
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- LDS seminary principal arrested
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
88 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Didn't Obama and Biden just admit to the fact that the stimilus programs were...
The last part of the article about Cowherd is classic!!! I normally like the...
This man was my teacher in high school. He is my friend, he was like a father...
I like millsap, but portland just burried themselves. They made themselves...
It's amazing how quickly society is willing to vaccinate it's children with...
The first income tax was introduced during the Civil War, that's only 70...
If he really did what the evidence seems to show, I don't think he should be...
Utah needs Portland too much. It's much harder than you think to find good...
stacy, have you ever eaten there ??
I had Brother Pratt at Viewmont High School my sophomore year... I was really...


You can be the first to comment on this story.