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Utah House approves amendment to water funding bill to require planners to consider Great Salt Lake impacts; bill passes House
Summary
The Utah House passed an amendment to third substitute Senate Bill 251 requiring planners to consider potential environmental and economic impacts on resources, including the Great Salt Lake, and later approved the revised bill; proponents said it helps protect the lake while opponents warned it could invite litigation and complicate water-right adjudication.
The Utah House on March 9 approved an amendment to third substitute Senate Bill 251, a water infrastructure funding and planning measure, requiring the Division of Water Resources and related boards to consider potential environmental and economic impacts on resources "including the Great Salt Lake" when reviewing qualifying projects. Representative Sam Nelson, who offered the amendment, said the change is aimed at "having the end users in mind" and protecting the Great Salt Lake as the state invests in long-term water projects.
Representative Nelson told colleagues the Great Salt Lake is now roughly half the size it was when early settlers arrived, has dropped "by 11 feet," and that "flows into the lake…
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