New Bill to Divert Prized Green River Proposed at Utah Legislature
H.B. 328 is First Step to Diverting Green River Water to Wasatch Front Lawns
Utah Representative Joel Ferry, Brigham City, is running H.B. 328 to divert the Green River to provide water to America’s most wasteful water users – Wasatch Front residents. The bill was unveiled on February 13th and would provide municipal water for outdoor lawn use in the summer months. It studies diverting Green river water through either the Bear River or Weber River to the Wasatch Front.
The Green River flowing south towards the Colorado River. The Green provides 40% of the water at Lake Powell.
The State has already spent $3.5 Billion diverting Green River Water through the Central Utah Project
The waters of the Green River are already flowing to Wasatch residents through the Central Utah Project, a $3.5 billion endeavor. This new attempt by Rep. Ferry to divert even more water from the Green would be detrimental to the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin as the Green River provides 40% of the Colorado River water at Lake Powell.
Other legislators have continued to sponsor bills that would conserve water as the inexpensive alternatives to large water projects like Bear River Development and Lake Powell Pipeline. However, these have continually been shut down by water lobbyists and the legislators that listen to them in favor of more expensive water sources.
Ironically, last week Rep. Ferry spoke against H.B. 40, a bill sponsored by Rep. Ballard and American Water Works Association, the largest water trade organization in America, that would save 26,000 acre feet of water per year for a mere $1.5 million. Rep. Ferry also spoke against H.B. 143 during the 2019 General Legislative Session, a bill designed to conserve water by amending the Water Conservation Plan Act. That bill, sponsored by Rep. Suzanne Harrison died in the House Natural Resources and Ag Committee, which Rep. Ferry sits on.
“Opposition to meaningful water conservation bills continues to happen at the statehouse by legislators who push for costly water development projects instead. Water conservation is pennies on the dollar compared to water development. Yet those who hold the future in their hands continue to waste taxpayer dollars on unnecessary, expensive, and destructive projects like this new proposal to divert the Green River.”
Contact Rep. Joel Ferry Today and Demand that He Pulls H.B.328 from Consideration Immediately!
801-726-4032
jferry@le.utah.gov
780 N 1100 W, BRIGHAM CITY, UT, 84302
Link to full Press Release HERE