11 projects in Utah get water funds from Norton
Interior chief praises conservation efforts and innovations
"I never complain if there is a possibility of rain in the West," Norton said.
Norton was in Utah on Wednesday to award more than $2.5 million in Water 2025 Challenge Grants to help fund 11 projects addressing the state's long-term water needs. She praised the recipients for their innovation and initiative in utilizing technology to make better use of existing water supplies, conserve resources and save money.
"The hard fact is that the population is growing (in the West), but the water supply is not," Norton said. "Watersheds are sometimes over-allocated, water infrastructure is aging."
Those hard realities, she said, are the driving force behind Water 2025. The program, administered by the Interior's Department's Bureau of Reclamation, provides technical resources and matching funds to local water or irrigation districts in Western areas where conflict over water exists or is likely to occur in coming years.
"We will continue to face water shortages," Norton said, "but we can reduce water conflict, and we can avert water crises."
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. was among the state and local government officials on hand to welcome Norton and look on as she signed the oversized cardboard checks during the awards ceremony.
"The drought in this state is over," Huntsman told Norton.
The governor then cautioned Utahns not to become complacent when it comes to water conservation.
"We have developed in this state a conservation ethic about water," Huntsman said. "We must maintain and hold onto that conservation ethic."
Grants issued to Utah organizations will provide funding for flow sensors and meters, expanded supervisory control and data acquisition systems, as well as water pipes to replace open canals. Including one grant given to Idaho, funding awarded Wednesday represents nearly $7 million in water improvements and will save approximately 68,000 acre-feet of water each year. One acre-foot of water on average is enough to meet the needs of a family of four for one year.
"Challenge Grants are the heart of the 2025 program," said Norton, who in January 2001 became the first woman to head the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Traditionally, the Bureau of Reclamation funded major water storage and irrigation projects through a congressional authorization process, she said. Such projects often spent years getting congressional approval only to wait several more years in order to get Congress to provide the funding.
"We decided that we needed an approach that would be more flexible and that would allow us to address the kinds of challenges that we see with the drought situations and the growing population situations in the West," Norton said.
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.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- LDS seminary principal arrested
160 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
99 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - 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...
I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...
i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...
Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...
Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...
can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...
Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...
These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...
My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...
It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...
You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...



You can be the first to comment on this story.