Water
is the limiting factor for growth in Cache Valley --
but growth is causing water shortages
By Mikaylie Kartchner
April 29, 2005 | CACHE COUNTY -- Water,
water everywhere -- at least that's what some think.
With the flooding that has been occurring all over the
valley in the last couple months, problems with water
scarcity seem to have vanished. But there are other
water issues the county is ignoring, said Evan Olsen,
former Utah legislator.
With growth in the valley, especially in the south
end, water recharge areas are being covered with asphalt
and housing. This means underground aquifers are not
able to refill, which not only causes water shortages,
but causes problems with storm water as well.
"We need to really talk about it right now," Olsen
said. "We've got to get involved. It is quite an issue
that is getting nothing done about it and I am getting
frustrated."
Cache County Executive Lynn Lemon agrees with Olsen.
"The big issue," Lemon said, " is what are we going
to go long term."
According to the 2000 census, Cache Valley has been
growing at a rate of 2.3 percent on average. But many
municipalities in the southern end of the valley have
been growing much faster. Nibley's growth rate was the
greatest, growing at 5.77 percent, with Paradise second
at 3.07 percent then Providence at 2.73 percent.
Northern parts of the valley have been growing much
slower, and partly because of water problems. During
the winter months, from October to April, a moratorium
is placed on many towns in northwest Cache Valley, which
limits and, in some cases prohibits, new building.
"The thing that will deter growth the most is water,"
Lemon said.
Olsen has been talking to the county council about
suggestions for controlling water. He said at the moment
most of the water restrictions come from the individual
cities. The county does have some authority, but, Olsen
said, they don't use it. Olsen's suggestion was to form
a water conservancy district to be run under the county
council that could address water issues, impose fees,
and make sure the county is taking care of their water.
Lemon said the water conservancy district was placed
on a ballot in a special election and voted down. A
water advisory board was created instead to serve under
the county council, but Lemon said there still is really
no major authoritative body controlling this resource.
Lemon said he would like to get the conservancy district
back on the ballot again, but in a general election
when there is a larger amount of people voting.
Both Olsen and Lemon discussed a proposed plan for
the state to building a reservoir in Box Elder County.
There have been discussions about giving Cache Valley
an allotment of water from the reservoir.
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