"What we are doing today has been attempted on other occasions for entire decades without success," Billings told the audience. "Any one of us alone, I think, would not be successful in doing what has to be done, but all of us working together, I believe, without question, will."

The commission will have its first meeting at 7:30 a.m. April 19 at Utah Lake State Park, and its first order of business will be to "get organized," said Utah County engineer Clyde Naylor, who is involved on the commission's technical committee. The commission will be looking to hire an executive director who will oversee the functions of the commission on a daily basis.

The commission plans to develop a master plan to promote multiple uses of the lake, protect the environment, increase and maintain recreational access to the lake, and work with developers, municipalities and land owners who have interests in the lake.

"I think the point is that it brings everybody together, so when you need funding, it will be easier to get when you have everyone behind you," said Kris Beulow, a coordinator with the Central Utah Water Conservancy District who is working to reduce the number of carp in the lake. "It's exciting. This is a chance to sit down and make sure you do the right thing."

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