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Show Vote 'for' CUP contract The Central Utah Project has been alternately praised and vilified more than any other state public works project -- and with good reason. The project represents an ingenious and daring effort to take Utah's share of the Colorado River and divert it to where it is needed, rather than to where mother nature will carry it. To accomplish that, the designers of the project developed a plan that included reservoirs, tunnels and pipelines to develop water that, unless it is put to use in the state will be put to use elsewhere - and be forever lost to Utah. Bringing that plan to fruition, however, was harder than it looked - and in the process costs for the massive replumbing of Utah's water resources soared -reaching up to six times the original estimate of $335 million. Because of those costs, the Bureau of Reclamation has refused to continue work on a major part of the Bonneville Unit of the CUP - the Jordanelle dam - until voters in the 12-county area encompassed by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District agree to a new contract con-tract to pay back the federal government for part of the cost overruns. While the cost overruns have been incredible, north Utah County now faces a "use it or lose it" situation with regard to its allocation of CUP water. The strongest argument is that this county's share of the water -- which will be provided through the Alpine-3 aqueduct - depends on the completion of the Jordanelle. If the reservoir isn't built, there will be no water collected and stored for use in our cities. That's why the Timpanogos Planning and Water Management Agency recently approved a resolution supporting the new contract. The Timp Agency has fought with the CUWCD for years over the construction of pipelines and the makeup of the district board; the agency lost the battle for the pipelines, but won the battle to change the way CUP directors are selected. Despite those differences, the agency recognizes that if our area is to get any benefit from the CUP, it will have to be through the Jordanelle. And if Tuesday's vote is against the repayment contract, the dam will not be built. That's not the only reason to vote for the contract. In negotiating the repayment contract, the CUP came away with a good deal. Conservancy district members are obligating themselves to 30 percent of the projects cost overruns. The money is being lent at a 3.2 percent interest rate, as well. While the contract will not increase annual taxes for the CUP ( the average local home owner now pays about $18 a year for the project), it will increase the length of time the project will be paid for. If the contract is not approved, we will still be paying for the CUP for 40 years. If the contract is approved, we will probably pay for the project for about 50 years. While the project has been characterized as a boondoggle boon-doggle by groups opposing it's completion, it has won the approval of both Former Gov. Scott Matheson and Gov. Norm Bangerter, as well as Utah's congressional delegation. All feel that the costs of the project are outweighed by the benefits of developing the state's water resources --and --and all stress that the CUP needs to be completed. A vote for the CUP supplemental repayment contract will be a vote to develop and protect the future water rights of north Utah County. Despite past disagreements with the CUP, north Utah County voters should support this contract to ensure the development of water for the future. |