The Board of Water Resources is comprised of 8 people appointed by the Governor and confirmed by at least 15 of the 29 Utah Senators.  The term is for four years.

Board members Shirley, Besssey, McPherson and Johansen were appointed to four year terms in April, 2007.  Board members Hancock, Flint, Carmen and Francis terms run until April, 2009.

 Board of Water Resources gives state grants and state subsidized loans for water development in Utah.

Recommend Reforms:

1-Representation on board seats  by population and by popular election.

2-Require transparent Water Right & Treatment Capacity inventories with “Applications For Financial Assistance.”  If an applicant is selling water rights on one hand, and requesting state aid to purchase more water rights, that is something that’s needs a level of detail in the applications which provide full disclosure.

3-Grants based on population and equally distributed pro rata among cities and water districts.

4-Condition grants and subsidized loans on good water citizenship.  If a city is rich, why does it need a state handout?  If a city sells un-needed “surplus water” for 35% higher rates capturing extra millions, then that city does not need grants and subsidized loans.  The public is paying twice.  Once with inflated water rates, and again with subsidize water speculation  by a rich, older city.

To remove the unfair and unequal rate incentive by Salt Lake City water dept, the Division of Natural Resources, Division of Water Rights, Division of Water Resources, and the Board of Water Resources need consistent and inter-locking policies to withhold state water privileges such as extensions, non-use applications, grants, and sub-sidized loans.

Water hoarding to monopolize and trap another municipality’s customers, chronic water protesting to obtain disproportionate influence, water wasting to maintain control, and extreme water litigating users to obtain more clout should not be subsidized with public money. Water activities and practices  which are unfair, disadvantage other water users, and are adverse to Utah’s water commerce  and economy should be discouraged by the Board of Water Resources policies and practices to maintain the public trust, to promote the principles of thrift, industry, and fairness which are the hall marks of the great State of Utah.

Note:

RCF means Revolving Construction Fund.

C&D means Conservation and Development Fund.

CWL means Cities Water Loan Fund.

PLGD Bond means repayments are pledged to pay for state-issued bonds that were providing funding for the Board’s program.

Agreement means the security is a contract.

Example, RE 1450 Ashley Valley Reservoir Co C&D Agreement 09/01/06 Board $2,400,000 Total Cost $2,870,000 1% 40 years means the board lent 2.4 million dollars on a total project cost of 2.87 million dollars at 1% interest with repayment over 40 years.