At the request of the Kane County Water Conservancy District (KCWCD), the Bureau of Reclamation will not consider Kane County’s future water supply needs in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the Lake Powell Pipeline (LPP).
KCWCD’s decision to opt out of the NEPA process was made after further review of the county’s projected population growth and available water supply, which indicated the county did not currently have a foreseeable need for the water.
“We continue to support the Lake Powell Pipeline and consider it absolutely essential to the future of southwestern Utah,” said Mike Noel, general manager of KCWCD.
A similar review of Washington County’s projected population growth and available water supply deemed the project essential.
“Washington County is the fastest growing and one of the driest regions in Utah,” said Todd Adams, director of the Utah Division of Water Resources. “The county is projected to triple in the next 40 years and is currently dependent on a single river basin that is almost fully developed. A second, reliable water source is vital for Washington County’s growing population and economy.”
KCWCD was anticipated to receive up to 4,000 acre feet of water per year from the LPP, or approximately 5% of the project’s yield. The water rights for the 4,000 acre feet of water remain with the Utah Board of Water Resources. If the need arises, KCWCD can complete a separate NEPA process and connect to the LPP in the future.
KCWCD’s decision will eliminate an approximately 10-mile pipeline from the LPP into Kane County; no other project changes are needed. The project’s timeline and process are unaltered. Reclamation’s work on the Environmental Impact Statement is ongoing with a draft anticipated for public review and comment this summer.
Visit
LPPUtah.org
for additional information on the project.
