Utah Lake will rise again — but when?

PROVO — Six Utah County mayors embarked on a 130-mile bus tour around Utah Lake on Monday to discuss lake-related issues with officials from other cities, the county and the state.

Ironically, some of the roads the bus rolled over were under water in 1985, when the lake rose over its banks. Then, Utah Lake water levels were nearly 12 feet higher than they are now. In 1995, it was seven feet higher.

The drought and the inevitable flooding that will return when the lake rises again were two subjects batted about during a three-hour tour that included doses of humor and disagreement.

Vineyard Mayor Rulon Gammon combined both when he complained about the effort to enclose the Murdock Canal in pipe, which he worries will take too much water to Salt Lake Valley.

"Salt Lake ought not drink until Utah County has flushed," Gammon said to hearty laughter, even though most on the tour support the project. Congressman Chris Cannon, R-Utah, is expected to introduce a bill in September that would provide federal support.

Another controversial issue is the 40-year, $40 million project to save the endangered June sucker fish. Water rights have been purchased to artificially keep the Provo River high as a nursery for the fish in the spring, but a release of 25,000 young suckers in May was unsuccessful.

As the tour began in Provo, the mayors learned U.S. Fish and Wildlife would like to flood an area just north and east of the Provo Boat Harbor for an environment for the June sucker.

Later, on the other side of the lake at Saratoga Springs Boat Harbor, Saratoga Springs Mayor Timothy Parker poked fun at the massive project.

"As soon as circumstances allow, this will be the site of the annual June Sucker Cookout," he cracked.

Several of the mayors grew up near the lake and expressed amazement that so many developers and homeowners have built and purchased homes in areas that were regularly flooded a few decades ago. They, and the scientists who joined the tour, believe the water will rise again.

"You'll see some development on the lake here," Lehi Mayor Ken Greenwood said as the bus entered his community. "I was adamant against it, but we were held hostage a bit. I told people they'd be able to fish and catch carp outside your bedroom window."

In fact, Greenwood said several of the mayors hope what they see as inevitable disasters don't happen until they are out of office.