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Show Water board funds freed for irrigation flood damages Governor Scott M. Matheson has freed an additional $3,875,000 in state Board of Water Resources funds from deferred status to help mutual irrigation irriga-tion companies and water users organ- zations pay for repairs to flood damaged damag-ed canals, diversions and other irrigation irriga-tion structures. Most of the board's funds were included in Governor Matheson's recent freeze action on . X CI TY ROAD crcwb and contractor tear up lOOWf,-,t between Main Street and 1 00 North ,r, part ol art etenwe rcpavc" ! m capital budgets of state agencies to help deal with expenses of the Spanish Fork Canyon earthslide. In approving the release of funds, Governor Matheson said, "It is essen- pror.ram by the City Public Wot ks Oepai litieiit tial that Utah's flood damaged and water-deprived farmland be restored as quickly as possible, and irrigation systems be rebuilt to serve those lands. The state is taking the initiative to make these funds availabale through the Board of Water Resources to mutual irrigation companies and water user associations in the form of interest-free loans to help pay for reconstruction of flood damaged structures." Flood damages to irrigation facilities are currently estimated at $6.6 million. Counties tallying agricultural damages include Box Elder, Millard, Sanpete, Sevier, Juab, Weber and Uintah. Mutual irrigation companies generally are not eligible for state or federal grants. John P. Holmgren, II, chairman of the Hoard of Water Resources, said the earmarked flood damage money will be diverted out of the Hoard's revolving funds. Holmgren said the hoard's staff will Rive prompt attention atten-tion to applications for irrigation reconstruction funds. |