Show Legislature approves water projects bond The Senate of the Utah Legislature approved the 25 million water resources bonding program backed by Gov Scott Matheson late Saturday night which includes 14 million worth of Uintah Basin projects The House had previously approved the water bonding plan The top two priority projects are the White River Dam and hydroelectric generator and the Long Park hydroelectric generator 12 million The other two basin projects are dams costing 1 million each for Browns Brown's Draw and Ouray Park The White River project which includes includes in in- a dam and a hydroelectric plant is scheduled to receive 10 million from the bonding funds Another 10 10 million is hoped for through agreement with the Ute Tribe which will receive benefit from the dam when it is constructed con con- IF NEGOTIATIONS with the Utes fail the state must decide if the White WhiteRiver WhiteRiver WhiteRiver River project which is said to be the key to the whole bonding program is worth 80 percent of the money I think trunk we should go ahead head either way said Sen Thorpe Waddingham Delta D-Delta who is chairman of the joint legislative Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee Besides the White River Dam and hydroelectric generation project for 10 million the bonding program gives the theLong theLong theLong Long Park hydroelectric project 2 million Mill Creek development 2 million Recapture Dam 1 million Browns Brown's Dam 1 million i Ouray Park Dam 1 million Muddy Creek Dam 3 million Smith Dam 2 million Cedar City project 2 million and Indian Head Reservoir 1 million Dan Lawrence Utah Water Resources Division director said he does not expect negotiations with the Ute Tribe to fail He lie said that with the bonding money the state can show the tribe that the project will proceed Lawrence indicated the Indians have funds available but were waiting for the state to provide its share of the money The bill allows the Board of Water Resources to redistribute the bond money among the projects on the list and provides for an annual tax on real realand realand realand and personal property if necessary to retire the bonds The money will pay redemption premiums on the bonds interest on the bonds and will discharge the bonds' bonds principal The second major project in the bonding program is the Long Park hydroelectric project Lawrence indicated indicated in in- Last November Sheep Creek Irrigation Co Manila Daggett County opened bids to construct the Long Park Dam and reservoir CONSTRUCTION was to take place during the next two years The reservoir was planned only fer irrigation and recreational use Officials determined that if the dams dam's outlet could be modified during original construction to accommodate a hydroelectric power project the power would benefit the area It is located r jut 11 miles from Flaming G Gorge r Plant transmission lines arid and c could uld be joined to that system Power sales would amount to about per year which would help the bonding program The project is planned for Sols Canyon about 10 miles southwest of Manila The White River Dam project is to be located on the White River about 40 miles southeast of Vernal and two miles southwest of Bonanza Uintah County The White River Dam will provide irrigation for acres of Ute Indian Indianland Indianland Indianland land development of oil shale and future industrial uses reduction of flood peaks and recreation Revenues from White River Dam power will wil benefit the state and the project will increase the tax base of the area and allow the state to realize large royalty payments from the development development development develop develop- ment of oil shale officials said Improving irrigation is the chief reason for the other two Uintah Basin projects named in the bond Browns Brown's Dam project is located about five miles west of Neola Duchesne County Ouray Park Dam is located about five miles northeast of Gusher Uintah County |