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Mendon addresses the drying of Utah By
Andrea Nixon MENDON -- The main topic of conversation at the City Council meeting Thursday evening consisted of water and . . . well, water. The three-hour meeting included discussion almost exclusively about water issues facing Mendon and all of Cache Valley. Continued drought conditions in Utah have concerned city councils throughout the state. Councilman Jon Hardman asked Loralie Platero, Cache County USU Extension Horticulturist, to attend the meeting and explain Utah's water problems to the council. "My purpose tonight is to introduce the fact that there is a water issue in Utah," said Platero. "It's a real problem, but there's something we can do about it. Multiple years of low water reserves have increased the need to conserve available sources, Platero said. Continuing growth and development have also placed increasing demands on current supplies. Utah, said Platero, is the second driest state in the nation with 13 inches annual precipitation, and 16 inches for Cache Valley. She estimated the average Utahn uses 293 gallons of culinary water per day. She also said that on average, more than 60 percent of Utah's municipal water is used for outdoor landscapes, and that's where a lot of the water shortage problems could be solved. Platero gave the council suggestions for more effective landscape watering practices and other strategies to conserve water in the landscape. Platero believes conservation is the least-cost option for new water supplies. Councilman Steve Sorenson questioned her view. "Are there people pursuing other alternatives?" asked Sorenson. "Are we putting all our eggs in the conservation basket?" Platero acknowledged there are probably other ways to alleviate Utah water problems, but still thinks "conservation is a start." "It's a way to help," she said. Gordon Yonker, an employee of the Utah Association of Conservations Districts and a North Logan City Council member, also attended the meeting to provide additional information about water issues. He agreed with Platero that conservation is a good idea. "Water for the whole state is really becoming a major issue," said Yonker. "We don't have all the answers, but we do know the problem--water usage." A recent study showed North Logan couldn't develop half its city on its current water supply, said Yonker. If residents continue using water at their current rate, the city would be out of water in 20 years. Yonker's specific purpose for attending the meeting was to ask the council if Mendon City wanted to take part in a grant program that aims to improve the city's water condition. The North Logan City Council has been pursuing the grant and extended the opportunity for Mendon to jump on the bandwagon as well. The grant application has already been submitted, but North Logan will proceed with the program regardless of whether Mendon chooses to commit or not. If Mendon decides to be involved in the project, the council would need to select a committee to "direct efforts and outcomes for Mendon City," said Yonker. "You need a representative group of citizens to recommend to the city council what would best serve Mendon," he said. "It'd be up to the committee to find out what your issues are." Yonker said he hopes several products will come out of the grant: a water conservation plan for the city, a simple pricing schedule that encourages conservation, and a consensus about whether there are economic benefits of secondary irrigation. While these are North Logan's objectives, it would be the job of the Mendon committee to come up with its own goals. "Identify what outcomes you'd hope for," Yonker said. "It's your call." One of the benefits of the grant program is its flexible results and stipulations. Among other things, Mendon City would get to decide how much water is used for culinary and secondary purposes and how much residents should be charged for their water. Workshops and public meetings will be held to educate people about the issue. Specialists will be brought in to conduct studies and evaluate such things as water-pricing options, but these specialists will only be use as a resource. The council-appointed committees will make all final decisions for their respective cities. Hardman supports the program and Councilwoman Leslie Larson said she was highly interested in learning more about it. "I think information is power," Larson said. "Let's take the information we have already, use that as a springboard, and see what we can do." Mayor Sid Larsen thought it best to postpone making any final decisions until the council had more time to further discuss the issue. "We just need to hash it out," he said. "We need to sit down among ourselves and decide what our issues are." Larson moved to support the grant and further explore the water issues. Sorenson seconded the motion, and the council approved it unanimously. In other business, the council decided to hold a public hearing April 3 to discuss a proposed amendment to the city ordinance dealing with specific transferable water amounts. The hearing will be at the Mendon City Fire Hall beginning at 7 p.m.
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