Utah's last two major water projects should cost about $750 million to $800 million total, and a state committee is wrestling with possible funding sources.

The figure is an informed estimate that a subcommittee of the state's Water Delivery Financing Task Force has tentatively calculated. The two projects are a pipeline from Lake Powell to St. George and the Bear River Project.

"The subcommittee is trying to identify what some of the options are for funding these two large water projects," said Larry Anderson, director of the Utah Division of Water Resources and a member of the group.

The subcommittee will take their findings to the task force as a whole next week.

"It looks like the Lake Powell pipeline will be needed somewhere between 2015 and 2020," Anderson said in a telephone interview. "And the Bear River Project will be needed somewhere between 2030 and 2035."

In January, experts told the task force that completion of the final segment of the Central Utah Project — involving the Spanish Fork Canyon-Provo Reservoir Canal — could delay the date by which the Bear River Project would be needed. But St. George's burgeoning population means the pipeline could be required earlier, said backers.

Bonding and recapitalization on water loan funds are among possible sources of funding for the two projects, Anderson indicated.

The cost estimate for the projects, $750 million to $800 million total, is based on today's dollar. With inflation, the numbers on the price tag should be higher.

Members of the Water Delivery Financing Task Force, a group appointed last November by then-Gov. Olene Walker, hope to put together recommendations by the end of June for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to consider.

Meanwhile, the Water Issues Task Force, a legislative group, planned to meet in St. George today. The task force, established by the 2004 Legislature, is studying ground water, water reuse, interim flows and other issues.

---

E-mail: bau@desnews.com