Appalled by scare tactics of WCWCD

Letters to the Editor

The Spectrum 

January 18, 2008

The Washington County Water Conservancy District executive director's scare tactics are appalling. He told developers that if we don't build the Lake Powell pipeline, "You will see this economy come to a screeching halt." Hogwash!

The WCWCD's own studies show that local sources can supply 144,000 acre feet of water. With reasonable conservation measures, that water can support the 600,000 county residents projected by 2050.

The pipeline's additional water would support a total of 1 million people! Those in favor of a population of 1 million please come see me. You'll all fit into my living room.

The pipeline's quoted cost of $500 million is more hogwash. Construction alone would exceed that, and interest on the bond would raise the total to approximately $1.5 billion. Who will pay? Not the feds and not just the buyers of new homes, although they are being hit with the WCWCD's escalating impact fees. The pipeline would affect every water user and property owner.

Finally, ignore the scare talk about local water supplies potentially running dry. If such an event happened, the pipeline also would be dry, but the banks will insist that we pay off the bond.

Are there any fiscal conservatives here? If so, speak up.

Raymond Kuehne