(10/15/98)

Is a war over water developing along the Wasatch Front? Planners for the 40- year old Central Utah Project say they're tearing up one of their key strategies, and rethinking the question of who gets what water. Environment Specialist John Hollenhorst explains.

ZACH FRANKEL/UTAH RIVERS COUNCIL: "THE C.U.P.'S VERY COMPLICATED."

When environmentalist Zach Frankel started fighting a few years ago against a 265-foot-high dam in Diamond Fork Canyon, he was told it was too late to stop it.

ZACH FRANKEL/UTAH RIVERS COUNCIL: "THE DECISION WAS OVER. THERE WAS NO MORE ROOM TO DISCUSS IT WHATSOEVER. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE WATER WAS GOING TO JUAB COUNTY."

But now, there's serious question if it will go south to Juab County farms, or north to urban areas. The Central Utah Project moves water from the Uintah Basin to the valleys of Western Utah.

An uncompleted portion would move water from Strawberry Reservoir, down Diamond Fork and Spanish Fork, and then south to irrigate farmland. Frankel says he found out Salt Lake taxpayers were footing a big chunk of the bill and would get no water.

ZACH FRANKEL/UTAH RIVERS COUNCIL: "SO WE DID SHIFT OUR FOCUS SOMEWHAT FROM TALKING ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS AREA WAS TO TRYING TO WAKE SALT LAKERS UP TO THE FACT THAT THEY WERE BEING RIPPED OFF BY THIS PROJECT."

Urban politicians also started raising concerns. A few months ago, planners decided they could deliver the water without building a dam. And this week they announced they're re-thinking an even more fundamental question.

JOHN HOLLENHORST REPORTING: "THE PLAN NOW IS TO COMPLETE THE PIPELINE SYSTEM THAT BRINGS THE WATER FROM STRAWBERRY INTO THIS DIAMOND FORK DRAINAGE. BUT IN A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OF DIRECTION, THEY'RE GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO FIGURE OUT WHO SHOULD GET THE WATER. "

DON CHRISTIANSEN/CENTRAL UTAH WATER CONSERVANCY DIST.: "THERE'S QUESTIONS ON THE WATER SUPPLY, ONCE YOU GET IT TO THE WASATCH FRONT, WHERE IT SHOULD GO, WHERE IT OUGHT TO BE USED. WE NEED TO REVISIT THAT. AND WE'RE GONNA REVISIT THAT."

The old plan died because of complex environmental, legal and political crosswinds stirred up by Utah's rapid growth. The key question that remains: Where is the water needed the most?

DON CHRISTIANSEN/CENTRAL UTAH WATER CONSERVANCY DIST.: "WE JUST HAVE TO RESOLVE THE END USE OF THE WATER, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO GO TO FARMS, OR WHETHER IT'S GOING TO GO TO HOUSEHOLDS AND SO FORTH."

The decisions are up for grabs now. Farmers may still get a share. But they'll have to fight for it. And it's possible their urban neighbors may have to fight each other. John Hollenhorst, KSL News, Diamond Fork Canyon.