Simply earlier than Halloween final fall, the Utah Division of Fires Forestry and State Lands (FFSL) rejected as unconstitutional a company plan to dredge sediment from the underside of Utah Lake to make islands. The corporate deliberate to promote housing tons to these gullible sufficient to wish to construct their homes, not on the rock, and even on sand, however on piled-up, lake-bottom sludge. Conservationists and residents, inside and outdoors Utah Valley, breathed a sigh of aid heard throughout the state.
Final 12 months, along with the choice signed by FFSL chief Jamie Barnes, HB 232 was handed by the Utah Legislature, creating the Utah Lake Authority (ULA). A part of the invoice dictates that the ULA should respect the general public belief doctrine and can’t approve any proposal to commerce sovereign land for a lake enchancment undertaking. Nonetheless, the ULA can approve a plan to be used of the lake in return for an enchancment undertaking. Whether or not or not that may be a loophole for growth that might injury the lake stays to be seen.
Final 12 months the legislature additionally handed HB 240, which additional reduces the ability of a authorities company or division to eliminate the sovereign land of the lake.
However we are able to’t afford complacency. Leopards don’t change their spots, and builders at all times comply with the cash. Some builders care about what corners they minimize to realize that aim or what sort of mess they go away behind, however some don’t. How a lot cash are we speaking about with the lake island boondoggle? Most likely not the $480,000 per lot for 500,000 residents that some critics predicted the corporate needed, however some fraction of that. As an train, suppose the corporate hopes to promote 100,000 tons at $100,000 per lot. That’s $10 billion {dollars}. Firm officers wanting a style of that chunk of cash are usually not going to retreat to a nook to sulk.
Even measured in opposition to different land prospectors, this firm doesn’t have a great report of accountable public conduct. I are inclined to put one hand on my pockets when somebody dons a honest masks and says they’re the one answer to my issues. And the principals of this firm produce other scary masks. They sued professor and lake researcher Ben Abbott for defamation and “intentional interference with potential financial relations.” Apparently, they’re apprehensive his statements that their undertaking is predicated on poor environmental science could preserve them from making a fortune off of the lake, a public useful resource. Abbott’s declare is supported by 100 lake scientists and consultants, who’ve signed a letter decrying dredging as means for restoring the lake.
Different critics of the islands undertaking marvel about SEC violations. Did officers of the corporate inform buyers concerning the danger that the entire undertaking could be rejected and declared unconstitutional? How legitimate was the corporate’s ballot, shared with buyers, which claimed assist from most residents of Utah county? Has the corporate truly raised as a lot cash as they declare they’ve on their statements to new buyers?
I’m satisfied that regardless of the questionable legality and feasibility of the undertaking, the company will attempt once more, both by the courts or by lobbying to vary the legislation. The Legislature is about to start out up once more this month. A protected wager could be that officers of this company have already approached a number of of our elected legislators. Who will probably be tempted to commerce the general public curiosity for a large number of cash?
Not solely do leopards by no means change their spots, however canines at all times return to their vomit. Lake Restoration Options is just not gone. The identify itself is sort of a Halloween masks, pretending to be one thing it isn’t. The officers of that firm are quietly making cellphone calls, looking for legislators who will assist them bend the legislation of their favor. They’re knocking on doorways with their palms out: Trick or deal with?
John Bennion is a author and member of Preserve Utah Valley, the group that stopped growth of Bridal Veil Falls.