|
<br />like you do about your children when they grow up.'
<br />As a Satt Lake City Commissioner, Jake Garn
<br />unsuccessfully approached Congress for money to
<br />build the dam. Later, he was instrumental in securing
<br />funding as a member of the Senate Appropriations
<br />Committee, Little Dell is a rolled earthfill dam with an
<br />Impervious clay core. It is 224 feet high and 1,700 feet
<br />long. While smaller than originally planned, the $60M
<br />dam and 20,500 acre-foot reservoir will supply water to
<br />the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City
<br />(MWD), the primary project sponsor, and provide flood
<br />protection and some recreation, Little Dell Lake began
<br />filling in March, storing heavy 1993 runoff and helping
<br />avoid flooding in parts of Satt Lake City,
<br />
<br />A brief history of this modest federal project
<br />illustrates some of the many hurdles that must be
<br />overcome and delays that resutt over time due to
<br />changing values and various fiscal and regulatory
<br />requirements facing proponents of any new water
<br />development project as part of a management plan.
<br />Little Dell's construction was authorized in 1960 and
<br />again in 1968 by federal Flood Control Acts. Congress
<br />enacted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
<br />in 1969, A final environmental impact statement was
<br />completed in 1975, and project modifications were
<br />again authorized in 1976. Support for sufficient
<br />funding didn't materialize until alter Satt Lake City's
<br />serious floods in 1983, when the project was
<br />reexamined. Despite firm local support and the
<br />commitment of Utah's Congressional delegation,
<br />completing Little Dell took another ten years. A new
<br />federal cost sharing policy was being debated In 1986
<br />when the Corps recommended post-authorization
<br />changes to meet the 'functional requirements and
<br />financial capability of the non-Federal sponsors.' In
<br />1975, the estimated project cost was $48.8M, In 1985
<br />It was $98.3M. Faced with rising costs and new cost
<br />sharing mandates, MWD considered building a smaller
<br />project without federal help, but agreed to construction
<br />of a downsized $46.6M federal project,
<br />
<br />The Corps financed 58% of the final $60M cost,
<br />and several local sponsors covered 42% of the cost.
<br />Satt Lake City donated the land. Satt Lake County
<br />added $7.6M for flood control. MWD provided $14.3M
<br />through a revenue bond, and the Utah Department of
<br />Water Resources contributed $1.6M for an interest
<br />buy-down. The Utah Department of Transportation
<br />relocated highways. Two 011 pipelines and other
<br />utilities were also moved, Further, Sandy City financed
<br />
<br />a related $12M expansion of MWD's water treatment
<br />plant as part of an annexation agreement, MWD will
<br />repay 100% of the federal costs allocated to water .
<br />supply and will operete the project. Without local
<br />financing, the project could not have been buitt,
<br />According to Garn, 'Cost sharing was the key because
<br />of the changing attitudes in Congress about water
<br />projects...and the growing budget problems,' He
<br />added Little Dell is a sign of the 'new age of water
<br />development.' (Salt Lake Tribune, August 5, p. D-1)
<br />
<br />MEEllNGS
<br />
<br />The Interamerican Dialogue on Water Management:
<br />sponsored by the South Florida Water Management
<br />District and Interstate Council of Water Policy will be
<br />held October 27-30 at the Hotel Inter-Continental In
<br />Miami, Florida At the meeting water resource
<br />professionals, policymakers, business executives, and
<br />related Interest groups from throughout the western
<br />hemisphere will share perspectives and formulate new
<br />directions for the sustainable development of water
<br />resources, The meeting sponsors are also circulating
<br />an 'Interamerlcan Survey of Water Resource
<br />Professionals,' to help Identify water management
<br />networks in the western hemisphere and information
<br />sources and services. The purpose Is to assess the
<br />potential benefits and services of an expanded Water .
<br />Resource Partnership linking existing networks,
<br />associations, government agencies, businesses,
<br />organizations, and Institutions In the western
<br />hemisphere. Such benefits and services may include
<br />enhanced communication, technical cooperation,
<br />sharing of management expertise, data base
<br />exchanges, and training regarding water resource
<br />policies, practices, and applications in the context of
<br />sustainable development, For Information regarding
<br />the meeting or the survey call (407) 687-6105.
<br />
<br />PEOPLE
<br />
<br />Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Dan Beard
<br />has announced that Donald R. Glazer has been
<br />appointed as the Bureau's Deputy Commissioner in
<br />Denver, Colorado, Beard noted that '..,Don will
<br />provide the career leadership to achieve my goal of
<br />making reclamation the preeminent water
<br />management agency In the world and to manage
<br />water resources in an economically and enviormentally
<br />sound manner.' Glazer will leave his current position
<br />as Director of Denver Operations,
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organizallon of representaIives appointed by the Governors of .
<br />member states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, .Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico. North Dakota,
<br />Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and 1 ociate member Slate Oklahoma.
<br />
|