Help stop the Lake Powell Pipeline Project today!

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is beginning the scoping for the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline Project, which would pump water from the endangered Colorado River from Lake Powell 140 miles west to St. George, UT. Please take a moment to comment to this agency about your opposition to the project.

Your input is the only indication FERC will have of the public sentiment for the project, and it will make a difference.

Comments are due by November 19th, 2018.

Comment to FERC by going to:
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp

Fill out the form, including your email. You will be emailed a link.
Open the link in the FERC email and use the Lake Powell Pipeline docket number to comment.

Docket # P-12966-001

Potential Talking Points:

(Comments have much more clout if you use your own words and ideas as much as possible, even if they’re short).

MONEY – This project has a price tag of $1.2-$1.8 Billion dollars, and will probably be higher when all is said and done. Washington and Kane County water users are responsible for 76%, which will mean increased rates and connection fees for years to come. The taxpayers of Utah will finance the rest. Thus far, the State of Utah has not disclosed a clear plan towards repayment. With a price tag that high, we have the right to know the economic impact to the public.

WATER- The Utah Division of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation refuse to factor the impacts of climate change, drought, and near certain predictions of future decreases in Colorado River water into their calculation of how much water Utah can allocate. Scientists predict that Colorado River flows will decrease 20%-30% by mid century, and it’s starting now. If we continue to develop water projects to our full allotment on paper, it will cause even more shortages and conflict in the near future.

In all likelihood, the Lake Powell Pipeline will not be able to deliver the full 86,000 acre feet per year to Southwestern Utah, making it a colossal waste of tax payer money and a huge burden on the water users of that district.

CONSERVATION IS KEY- Water conservation measures should be fully explored in St. George and surrounding areas before investing billions of dollars taxpayer money into an unnecessary pipeline. St. George residents use 294 gallons of water per person per day, roughly twice what people in Phoenix, Albuquerque, and Denver use.

CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS-
This could include potential damage to any area you might be familiar with along the route, archeological sites, overhead power transmission lines, hydro-power facilities, water treatment plants or otherwise.

Photo by Michael Friberg