The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Lake Powell Pipeline (LPP) project today. The EIS will analyze positive and negative environmental effects of the project and alternatives.

The Utah Board of Water Resources (UBWR) and the project participants are pleased that Reclamation is advancing the permitting for this important water project.

Two pipeline alignments have been proposed: the Southern Alternative and the Highway Alternative. Both alternatives begin and end in the same locations. The Southern Alternative would travel south of the Kaibab Indian Reservation while the alignment for the Highway Alternative would cross lands held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, following Arizona State Route 389. A “No Action” alternative will also be studied that considers what would happen if the project was not built. 

The pipeline would deliver up to 86,249 acre-feet of water to 13 communities in southern Utah. “UBWR proposes building the LPP in order to bring a second source of water to Washington and Kane Counties in Utah to meet future water demands, diversify the regional water supply portfolio, and enhance the water supply reliability,” according to Reclamation’s notice.

Reclamation is requesting public scoping comments to identify significant issues or other alternatives to be addressed in the EIS. Interested parties will need to submit new comments on the current proposal.

Comments must be submitted to Reclamation on or before January 10, 2020 via submittal form at https://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/eis/LakePowellPipeline/index.html ; or e-mail to [email protected] . UBWR encourages public comment on this project.

Three scoping meetings will be held in January 2020 in the following locations:

Meetings are scheduled from 6-8 p.m.

To read the Notice of Intent, visit https://federalregister.gov/d/2019-26357 or govinfo.gov.

In a recent Deseret News editoral, several local mayors and commissioners shared their vision and reason for supporting the Lake Powell Pipeline. The piece was authored by mayors Jon Pike of St. George, Ken Neilson of Washington, John Bramall of Hurricane, Rick Rosenberg of Santa Clara, Chris Hart of Ivins, and Washington County commissioners Dean Cox, Victor Iverson and Gil Almquist. Following is an excerpt:

"Having a future reliable water supply includes the development of the Lake Powell Pipeline, an approximately 140-mile culinary water transmission line that will deliver more than 82,000 acre-feet of water to our communities. The project will more than double our current water supply and is essential to diversifying our existing water source and meeting the demands of a population projected to increase 229% by 2065.

Some, including special interest groups based outside of Washington County, claim the project isn’t necessary. We respect the differing opinions about this project, but we — your elected community leaders and neighbors — are concerned when outsiders attempt to dictate our community needs and determine how we should live. Our concern escalates when misinformation is presented as facts... Approximately four decades ago — before most of us lived here — the decision was made to build the Quail Creek Project, a water infrastructure system that includes a diversion dam, miles of pipeline and a reservoir. Water rights had to be secured. Environmental permits had to be issued. It took a lot of work. It took a lot of money. It took a lot of vision. Some people criticized the project, claiming they would never use a drop of water from it. Today, we all depend on that project. We would not be here without it. The same will be said of the Lake Powell Pipeline in the future."

You can read the full article online here.

Copyright © 2019 LPP, All rights reserved.

CONTACT US:

Lake Powell Pipeline

801-538-7230

[email protected]

533 E. Waterworks Dr.

St. George, UT 84770

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