SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS NOW ON LAKE POWELL PIPELINE — June 25, 2020
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The 140-mile Lake Powell Pipeline would pump 77 million gallons of water daily to Washington and Kane counties.
(Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo) The Colorado River as it winds through southeastern Utah. The Lake Powell Pipeline...
The future of the Colorado River and Great Basin depend on you. The Bureau of Reclamation is currently accepting comments on a proposal that would siphon 28 billion gallons of water out of Lake Powell every year. This project, the Lake Powell Pipeline, would have a ripple effect downstream on Lake Mead and beyond. The preliminary cost estimates are more than $2 billion for construction. The likely damage inflicted upon western water supplies, landscapes and communities will be negative and unnecessary.

You can submit comments in opposition until September 8. But please don't wait

For residents of the west, this project has grave implications. Utah officials tout the proposal as the only alternative to meeting the future water demand of growing communities like St. George.

That is a farce.

This unnecessary project will not only increase water bills and drain the Colorado River, it will put a target on water supplies elsewhere in the Great Basin. St. George is one of the west's wanton water wasters. The pipeline will feed green lawns, golf courses and swimming pools that guzzle water while conservation takes a backseat to ravenous consumption.

Removing lawns, restricting watering and managing demand responsibly must be a priority. It will save billions of dollars and billions of gallons of water. Residents of St. George consume almost double the amount of water than Las Vegas residents on a daily basis. Instead of building a pipeline, they can cut usage without incurring costs.

In the long-run we fear that this project will stoke the need for water grabs across the west.

Think about it: There will be 28 billion fewer gallons every year flowing from Lake Powell downstream to Lake Mead.
Once this project further drains Lake Powell and Lake Mead, where else will water officials turn to in their quest to fuel sprawl development in the desert?

HERE IS HOW TO HELP
We are following the lead of the Utah Rivers Council, Conserve Southwest Utah and other groups that have been on the front lines fighting this battle.
Conserve Southwest Utah's "TAKE ACTION" page has a great template for comments.
Utah Rivers Council's "TAKE ACTION" page can help you explore what you can do beyond commenting.
The Lake Powell Pipeline is a sibling project of the Vegas Pipeline. Let's make sure it has the same fate.

Read More on this website including recent News in the press.


The Great Basin Water Network was formed to protect the water resources of the Great Basin for current and future residents – human, animal and plant.

Kyle Roerink
Executive Director
Great Basin Water Network
702-324-9662


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