From Deseret News archives:
Stream bill to protect trout floats through committee
By clearing a logjam it earlier faced in the same committee, HB117 seems to be flowing toward passage in the Legislature.
"This is probably the first time that I ever voted for a bill that's supported by the Sierra Club," said Rep. Michael E. Noel, R-Kanab, who added, jokingly, "and don't let my constituents in rural Utah know about that."
Currently, private water rights can be used only for beneficial uses that help humans, such as hydropower, culinary water and irrigation. But the narrowly written HB117 would allow holders of water rights to lease them for the purpose of protecting stream habitat. This would help the Bonneville, Colorado River and Yellowstone cutthroat trout, fishes that are native to Utah.
Last session, a similar bill lost narrowly. According to Tim Hawkes, a lawyer who is a member of the group Trout Unlimited and has been a main fighter for the bill, the earlier measure ran into trouble in the same committee.
Since then, backers amended the bill to ensure it could not harm downstream users like hydro plants, and obtained a "safe harbor" guarantee from the Fish and Wildlife Service to prevent such a restriction.
Rep. Stephen E. Sandstrom, R-Orem, the measure's sponsor, said that in a sense, by not using up water from a particular stream stretch, downstream users may have more available. He listed a string of the supporters, including the Sierra Club.
"I just want to comment on this bill and thank the sponsor and Trout Unlimited on this," Noel said. "I think it's a much better bill than we had last year. This is a major change in policy to recognize instream flow as a beneficial use."
As HB117 is now drafted, with its new restrictions, he said, "it will be a good bill. ... I would support this bill."
Speaking in support at the meeting in the Capitol Complex were representatives of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation and the Utah Anglers Coalition, and Jim Berkowitz, director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Noel moved that the committee approve the bill as amended and the motion passed unanimously.
After Noel made his comment about the environmentalist group, Sandstrom said, "I only mentioned the Sierra Club to get Rep. Riesling's (Rep. Phil Risen, D-Salt Lake) vote on this bill, and then he left the room. So I guess it didn't do any good to mention the Sierra Club."
E-mail: bau@desnews.com
Recent comments
This is a good change. One that will benefit sportsmen as well as...
Nathan D. | Jan. 30, 2008 at 12:07 p.m.
- BYU 24, New Mexico 19 4:21 a.m.
- Jazz game at a glance 3:00 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 3:00 a.m.
- Stanford ends Y's soccer season 2:20 a.m.
- Jazz hope D-Will returns soon 2:19 a.m.
- Snow, SUU lose 2:18 a.m.
- Aggies beat Spartans in snowy Logan 2:17 a.m.
- Toone saves day for Wildcats 2:15 a.m.
- Win in New Mexico good for Y? 2:15 a.m.
- TE George's wife delivers 2:13 a.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Crash on snowy road kills woman
- BYU happy to escape with victory
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- Born of water and the spirit
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
358 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - BYU happy to escape with victory
194 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - TCU creams U.
134 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
106 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
So Great!!! So Proud - Love RSL - Bring Home The CUP!!!!!
mr cannon's bold assertation that the purpose of the first ammendemnt as...
Great great great game!!!! Nicky Rimando is a god! We're the most complete...
I had the game on DVR and just watched it. That was the most exciting game...
financially cannot this year, but I will watch loyally, how great to hear...
This is hardly surprising. Bennett has a remarkable arrogance which is also...
I guess that is why "they play the game" as Herman Edwards would say.. ...
What was the score of the LSU vs LA tech game? Alot closer than you'd like to...
Has Fedor not said that THIS IS OUR YEAR all year long? Go back and...
This is just a small glimpse of the future with Obamacare: corruption, waste...

