From Deseret News archives:
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."
"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.
Comments
- Former DPS head pleads guilty 2:46 p.m.
- Hasan's lawyer to meet with him 2:45 p.m.
- Hatch empathizes with Muslims 2:42 p.m.
- Two arrested in $3 robbery 2:41 p.m.
- Dow hits highest level in a year 2:33 p.m.
- 2 more in GOP may challenge Bennett 2:31 p.m.
- Life sentences for juveniles examined 2:20 p.m.
- Matheson may face Dem challenger 2:11 p.m.
- Columbia prof to speak at U. 2:07 p.m.
- Mitchell wants testimony excluded 1:36 p.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Hope for single moms
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- TCU moves into 4th place in BCS
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
246 - House passes health care bill
212 - Lobo suspended
176 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
153 - TCU showdown has big implications
145 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
130 - Thousands protest health bill
107 - Provo company innovating engines
106 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
103 - RSL rallies to advance
103
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
All lawyer/legal tactics aside, there are only three ultimate possibilities:...
"I read they do like people w/ accounting degrees and/or people of the LDS...
God was only aiming for one of us. The rest of us have minor bumps bruises,...
Welcome sir ! You're extremely important to all of us ! Thank you for your...
Welcome to the Salt Lake City Field Office Mr. McTighe. Maybe we'll get some...
Interesting article, but don't understand the danger of non carbon receipts....
The "progressives" and "liberals" who think that the Constitution has no...
Soon we will see if CJ is as good as you think he is?? I'm not sure he would...
That's kind of the point. Most people don't mind Bingham or Alta saying they...
JD you and your school SS are nothing but losers! your season is over!!!!!!...



You can be the first to comment on this story.