Show TTwHemMJoumaMCacheSundey Decembers 1990--Paf- lo 11 08 The proposed reservoir would flood roughly 4000 acres at the Barrens 'v t To a casual observer the broad largely flat expanse dam is likely to et careful scrutiny from die state’s 104 known locally as the Amalga Barrens would seem an odd The Barrens was first studied as a potential reservoir place to build a dam and water storage reservoir But to a panel of poUtidans and water czars from northern Utah site as part of die Amalga Reservoirs project according to the roughly 4000-acr- e area is one of fee last best hopes to a 1988 repot prepared by the Utah Division of Water develop Bear River water The 33000-- to Resources That project investigated far 1983 was of water diet may potentially be stored somewhat different than die current proposal in dud it within die Barren’s planned series of dikes could be used then entailed two dams and reaervoni One dam was in Chche County and into the Bear at Coder proposed on die main stem of the Bear River east of neservou mn ror me most pan n is water ininrui m Amalga and about a mile north of Cache Valley Cheese It neighboring Box Elder County who have expressed die is currentiy called die Snrithfleld rite and is still under most interest in having die state — and Utah taxpayers — consideration and study The second reservoir die Barrens site was proposed then much as it is build die Barrens reservoir Notreally a dam in a way many perceive one — that of today Back then die two proposed reservoirs would have a single dike or dam stretched across a narrow point on a been interconnected by pipelines and canals x river — the Barrens reservoir would impound Although both those dam sites as well as three others within rouridy 12 miles of earthen dikes It would create a aw currently being investigated by the water resources two4ndhalf mOe by three-mil- e mostly rectangular- - division via a number of private consulting firms the most shaped shallow pond It would look somewhat like talked about dam site is die Barrens Also under Wiuard Reservoir on die diores of Great Lake Lake south investigation in die latest round of “ of Brigham City rather than Eke Hyrum or Porcupine studies" authorized by the 1990 Oneida Narrows site on die Bear dams in Cache County A chief proponent of die project is Sen John Holmgren Idaho the Honeyville site in Box Elder County and fee Avon Min Creek and Southfield sites in Cache Studies under way include: Salt Lake CH2M Hill is completing c a with range ipeople and feasibility investigations as well development That panel is plotting die future of what a cost analysis for each project The cost some consider Utah's last watering hole In November all providing but one of ib members approved a conceptual plan to Logan-base- d BJoWest isjcompleting die environ- -' present to die full legislature that if approved could ihental damwedfflds MS pbUtf ‘Ind ‘At1 an built lead inductingto analysis' beingeventuallyestimated cost of $27 million to $79 million die proposed lOQflOO-acre-fe- et off-strea- m -- City-bas- ed geo-techni- he-Barrens -- - k V'L - v ’ Logan-base- d Ecosystems Research Institute is completing water quality and analysis work at die five sites The cost $175000 Salt Lake James Montgomery Engineering is studying wafer quality as wdbut from a "treatability" standpoint Montgomery and ERI will share information that will lead to conclusions about existing water quality conditions as well as what might be expected if dams ire City-bas- ed built The cost $128000 Water resources engineer Ken Short who provided the above information snd ocher work is also under way A panel of economists are looking at economic issues Short said while at USU’s Water Research Laboratory engineers am developing a computer model dial will be useful in assnsshg water demand and delivery systems along the Wasatch front While five individual sites are being further investigated die Banana remains a Ugh priority in die eyes of water development interests Sen Holmgren favors die Barrens site over several other proposed projects in Cache County — fee Avon and Mill Credc sites — because it would be cheaper to build and because enticipeted environmental constraints would be fewer It would likely be to obtain pamii to flood wetlands which are abundant at die Barrens site Holmgren said than it would be to get approval to inundate a trout fishery and big game habitit in say fee Mill Oeek site That dam is proposed on die headwaters of the Blacksmith Fork south of Hardwire Ranch Members of die Bridgerland Audubon Society disagree |