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Show j Citizens Involved In Rising Lake Problem By GARY R. BLODGETT Clipper News Editor John W. Palmer, of Val Verda, is not a man to Ml back and let the world go by -- not when he feds he has an idea that might be beneficial to all Ltahns. AND IT'S THIS "get involved" philosophy that has led Mr. Palmer to write a detailed letter to Gov. Scott M. Matheson outlining his (Palmer's) (Pal-mer's) proposal for diking the east shore of Great Salt Lake in such a way that it would benefit Utahns in future years. Mr. Palmer admits his program is costly. 'But then what proposal to dike or pump the lake is not extremely costly," he asks. "At least my proposal has something to offer for years to come." SUGGESTING TO Gov. Matheson that the Palmer proposal be called simply, "East of Antelope Island Project," the letter to the governor gov-ernor recommends that the State: Work up a 10-year master plan to dike the area from the south point of Antelope Island east to the old lake line where solid soil and mud meet, thence north to Farmington Bay and the Syracuse Road entrance to Antelope Island State Park, and then across this road to the north end of Antelope Island. EXPENSIVE? YES. But Mr. Palmer has a future for his proposal. ' He suggests taking the money - $50 million to $75 million - proposed for pumping the lake's -salt water into the west desert and build the : dike, at first about six feet high, then install pumps to pump the Jordan River and accessory flows at the south end into the enlarged capacity dike system. MR. PALMER says two conveyor belt systems sys-tems -- one on the south end and one on the north end of the island -- could do the job of diking. Meanwhile, Mr. Palmer suggests putting to work several drag lines in the area to the east of the island, building a base of lake clays for the dike, as well as reserves for future interior lining of the dike system. "NOW THAT'S just the beginning." says Mr. Palmer. "The dike system could be expanded each year for 10 years, or whatever time it takes . to enlarge the dike to an elevation of 20 to 25 feet : and at least 100 feet wide -- to be used as a future two-lane road on top." Beginning immediately and continuing through the extended diking period, Mr. Palmer suggests going north at least to the Ogden and Weber Rivers and piping these flows along the shoreline to an area just south of Antelope Island Is-land entrance road and lift these waters by pump into the proposed dike area. IF THIS proposal is successful, here's what Mr. Palmer's plan would provide: see GSL PROPOSAL pg. 2 GSL Proposal CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE ; 1 . A means of building into the diking system at both the north and south ends of weir system to drop water into the lake, enabling the State to ; control the fluxation of our "dear old Lady Lake." 2. WE WOULD have a fresh, or nearly fresh body of water several miles wide and 15 to 20 miles long adjacent to the Wasatch Front - serving serv-ing the needs of recreation, tourism and irrigation. irriga-tion. 3. It would enlarge the potential for Antelope Island State Park as a recreation facility by creating commercial developments on the east slope of the island, where the historic ranch is located. 4. A FRESH-WATER beach front could be developed for at least three or four miles - providing pro-viding fresh-water sports, swimming, bathing, etc., within 15 minutes of world-reknown salt water bathing where you "float like a cork." 5. The excavated section of the east side could be developed privately into condominiums condomi-niums and commercial projects as well as providing pro-viding an area for sports that require level surfaces. sur-faces. 6. INCLUDE future development of the south shore, especially the overlook as proposed by Tooele County. 7. Boat marinas on both the north and south ends of Antelope Island should be restored with boating and docking facilities adequate for a Mississippi River-type paddle boat for recreation recrea-tion tours, dancing and dining. Included should be a series of locks at the south end of the island to lift the steamer to the fresh water lake that would serve the commercial development on the east slope. "OTHER POSITIVE aspects to this proposal can undoubtedly be added as monies become available," said Mr. Palmer. "Meanwhile, I believe be-lieve my systematic plan will do justice to this resource and to the people of this state." |