The legislature’s plans for water conservation
Water conservation should be on the top of the list for the legislature this session. We’ve been battling the mega drought for some time now, but with all of the recent news and attention on the consequences to Great Salt Lake, action must be taken this session.
Remember, just because legislation is touted as water conservation measures, or helpful to Great Salt Lake, doesn’t always mean it is, unfortunately. The Salt Lake Tribune reports on a number of ideas being introduced by the legislature, and we urge you to read through them, spread the word, and call your legislators to offer your opinions.
Some of the ideas so far:
- A special license plate for Great Salt Lake – the fee would help fund research
- Recognize brine shrimp as Utah’s state crustacean – this doesn’t do anything additional to protect the brine shrimp, but aims to recognize the work done to conserve them
- Golf courses might have to publish their water use – forces water-guzzling golf courses to be transparent about their water use
- Improved land use and water planning – “requires better coordination between water suppliers and land use planners. It also directs municipalities to consult with the Division of Water Resources to understand how the land and water use in their general plans will impact the Great Salt Lake and regional water supplies”
- More money for turf removal – Residents are stepping up and applying for state funded turf removal subsidies to help save water. The funding needs to keep up with the demand
- Property taxes for water projects get scrutiny – requires the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a study that could alter how property taxes are used to supplement water infrastructure projects, affecting water prices and potentially encouraging residents to cut back
- Schools could get a conservation assist – Larger school districts in Utah have been able to cut back significantly on energy and water consumption. This bill aims to put those resources in rural districts as well.