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Show Volume XXIX Issue X The Ogden Valley News Page 3 April 1, 2022 Guest Commentary Weber Basin Water Conservancy District – A Regional Water Supplier Dear Editor, Your March 15, 2022 editorial entitled “It’s Time to Slow Down the Train” demonstrates a need for the following explanation of the purpose and mission of the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District (WBWCD). WBWCD was created by landowner petition in 1950 to: 1) operate, maintain and repay the federal government for all facilities built for the Weber Basin Project, including six dams and reservoirs, canals, hydro-power plants, tunnels, aqueducts, and pipelines; 2) construct District-owned facilities as needed for current and future populations, including water treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs, wells, and distribution systems; and 3) promote conservation and develop water resources for the greatest beneficial use, as stated in the Utah Water Conservancy District Act. WBWCD is the regional wholesale water supplier for Weber, Summit, Morgan, Davis, and part of Box Elder counties. It is tasked with the responsibility of providing reliable water sources for current and future generations of water users. WBWCD is unique in that it provides many categories of water including drinking water, urban secondary water, agricultural irrigation water, industrial water, and groundwater replacement water. District water supplies have now been developed well beyond those of the original federal project with the addition of another dam and reservoir, a hydropower generation plant, drinking and irrigation water transmission systems, and groundwater wells. As the regional water supplier, WBWCD does not choose where water is used or how it is used, since it does not have land-use planning authority to approve subdivisions or developments. It is responsible to cooperate with cities, counties, and water districts to adopt conservation ordinances/policies, as well as assist them with other water planning efforts. For Wasatch Back communities, WBWCD’s water supplies make it possible to enter into groundwater replacement contracts that enable landowners to apply to the Utah State Division of Water Rights for a permit to drill a well. Upon the State’s approval of the well permit, WBWCD must release annually the amount of water specified in the permit from one of its reservoirs to replace what is diverted from the well and to ensure that downstream water right holders are not adversely impacted. Without this process, there would be no water for development in the Wasatch Back. Much thought and planning took place when WBWCD was formed. The original Weber Basin Project provides a two-year sup- ply of water when storage reservoirs are full. Additional supplies have been developed and acquired to help further mitigate times of drought and the effects of climate change. WBWCD continues to be a leader among Utah’s water conservation districts in diligently pursuing water conservation measures. Nevertheless, Mother Nature is the final arbiter of water supply, and the past two years have been unprecedented, with some scientists calling this the worst drought in several hundred years. With extremely low water levels in its reservoirs, WBWCD has preemptively called for severe restrictions in water use to preserve for its users a portion of their water allotment for the coming summer season. History has shown these types of droughts occur and reductions in supplies are inevitable at times. If we can all do small things to conserve water, big things can be accomplished. WBWCD, in cooperation with Weber County, has been tasked with completing an Ogden Valley water master plan study which began the spring of 2021. The purpose of the study is to better understand the hydrology, service areas, source capacities, and facilities within the Valley, as well as identify alternative solutions for meeting future projected water needs. The study is nearing completion and will soon go through a thorough review by WBWCD and County staff, after which there will be a public meeting where the study will be presented. It is anticipated the water study will be completed near the end of April. WBWCD is committed to its responsibilities as the regional water supplier and is dedicated to ensuring the most beneficial use of this precious resource. Respectfully submitted, Scott W. Paxman, PE, General Manager/CEO Inspirational Thought “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” --Morrie Schwartz A Brief History of the GEM Committee It is very apparent that Ogden Valley has many new residents, and it seems only appropriate to provide our new valley residents with information on the long-standing GEM (Growth with an Excellence Mandate) Committee. First, a sincere welcome to all our new full-time residents! We think you have found Ogden Valley to be a beautiful area and certainly want to see the rural character of the valley preserved. Here is some information to provide you with insight into the vision and reasons for the creation of the GEM Committee. GEM frequently sends out emails providing notification on issues and public meetings that are likely of interest to valley residents. If after reading about GEM’s vision and history you would like to be added to the GEM email distribution list, please send an email to jfullmer1@aol.com. GEM also holds committee meetings, and the next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday evening, April 6, 2022 in the Weber County Ogden Valley Branch Library located in Huntsville. Details on this meeting (including a ZOOM link) will be sent to the GEM email distribution list several days prior to the meeting. In-person attendance at these meetings is very much encouraged. GEM Vision - The rural character of Ogden Valley is defined by its open fields, agricultural lands, stands of trees, peace and quiet, dark skies, clean air and water, abundant wildlife, and small villages. It’s also defined by Pineview Reservoir, by historic Ogden Canyon, and by the long views of the surrounding foothills and mountain background. The vision of its residents, as noted in the Valley’s General Plan, is to maintain these values—primarily, the rural atmosphere of Ogden Valley. The Ogden Valley community desires physical development to complement, not overwhelm or compete with this rural character. It also desires that development not overwhelm natural resource sustainability. In the Ogden Valley planning area, Weber County is to promote and encourage unique and functional design in new developments, public spaces, and streetscapes to create a visible character distinct to Ogden Valley that enhances the Valley’s character. A Brief History on the Creation of the Ogden Valley GEM Committee - Ogden Valley has always had three distinct communities—Eden, Liberty, and Huntsville. Some of these communities developed their own informal committees to address development issues that began to crop up with increasing growth pressures moving into the late 1980s and 1990s. For instance, over twenty years ago Eden formed their own volunteer “Eden Planning Committee” where residents were welcomed to participate in meetings to discuss upcoming Weber County Planning Commission and Weber County Commission agenda items then take identified issues to these meetings and bring them up during the public comment period. Later, this was group was expanded to the still informal group called the broader Ogden Valley Planning Committee, and individuals on the committee were voted in by those attending meetings. The committee’s role was again to bring up concerns and issues at Weber County Planning Commission and Weber County Commission meetings, but had no other authority. Later, this group was reorganized as the Ogden Valley GEM Committee. Weber County commissioners later created a separate, formal Ogden Valley Planning Commission distinct from the general Weber County Planning Commission that had historically represented all of unincorporated areas of Weber County. Now called the Ogden Valley Planning Commission, it was initially called the Ogden Valley Township Planning Commission but has always been one and the same. Thus, the county now has two separate planning commissions—one serving unincorporated Weber County on the west side of the county and the other serving Ogden Valley residents. Members of these planning commissions are appointed by the three members of the Weber County Commission. It’s interesting to note that at one time, planning commissions had enough authority that if they, as a decision-making body, voted unanimously on a planning decision before them, the three-member board of county commissioners could not overturn their decision. This process was changed several years ago by the Utah legislature, under the premise that planning commission members were not elected officials so should not be given such decision-making authority; it should remain solely in the hands of elected officials, such as our three-member county commissioners. This, in essence, changed the Ogden Valley planning commission’s authority from a decision-making body to a recommending body on legislative issues. At present, most decisions made by the Ogden Valley planning commission can be revised or totally reversed or overridden by our Weber County commissioners. There was an early Ogden Valley General Plan from 1998, and the projections for the total number of housing units in this plan were 4,000 to 6,000. But given the arrival of the 2002 Olympics and the investments being made by Snowbasin, it appeared development would be exploding in Ogden Valley. To be better prepared, the Ogden Valley planning commission created the Recreation Element of the General Plan (2005), and in developing this plan, it became apparent that the Ogden Valley housing buildout was closer to 15,000. All landowners have development rights GEM COMMITTEE cont. on page 12 |