Measures aid trout, sewage facilities
The first bill squeaked by with approval of the Senate component of the task force while the House members tied.
Rep. Ben C. Ferry, R-Corinne, said water treatment plants wanted in-stream flows because that would allow dilution of effluent, rather than control water quality through more diligent treatment.
"My opinion is dilution is not the solution to pollution," he said. The problem results from "poor planning," he said.
The mixing zone would be strictly limited, under the law, and the bill would allow only temporary leasing of water rights. There would be more water available below the plant than before, according to backers.
In-stream flows — measured by the volume of water flowing past a particular area in a given period of time — are a use wherein the in which flows are not removed from the waterway, according to the Water Encyclopedia.
The trout bill was okayed overwhelmingly. Still, it didn't slide through without controversy.
During the roll-call vote on the trout bill, the newly appointed Sen. Dennis Stowell, R-Parowan (replacing Sen. Tom Hatch, R-Panguitch), passed on the measure. Rep. David Ure, R-Kamas, said when his name was called, "Dammit, no. It still hasn't got me."
Timothy Hawkes of Trout Unlimited was the bill's main architect, and he had ushered it through many amendments. In the end, the Utah Water Coalition and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources were on board. However, coalition members of the Utah Farm Bureau were not counted in that because the bureau was still working out its policy positions.
After the task force approved the bill, Ure said, "Congratulations, Mr. Hawkes. You have worked very hard and very diligently in trying to take care of all the problems."
"The amendments that have been built into the Trout Unlimited bill have addressed every issue that was raised vocally in the meetings we've had," said Fred Finlinson, an attorney and former state senator who represented the coalition.
"The bill in its present form would not adversely impact the local government sector of the water coalition. The Farm Bureau can make their own presentation" later.
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