HB 60: Another Legislative Attack on the Great Salt Lake

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HB 60 is a new bill at the Utah statehouse which further acts to dry up the Great Salt Lake by eroding already-insufficient regulations of new water diversions upstream. Current law requires Utah to consider denying a water right application if it could “unreasonably affect public recreation or the natural stream environment, or will prove detrimental to the public welfare.” This new bill removes this language to make it harder for the public to challenge water uses by arguing for the needs of lakes and rivers. In so doing, it removes the public’s ability to use the judicial branch of government to challenge bad decision-making in Utah government.

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This un-American legislation was presented as an effort to “streamline” water governance, but it will dry up streams and creeks across Utah that provide habitat to a myriad of fish and wildlife species. Groundwater will also be further impacted if this legislation passes and many communities could awaken to dry streambeds with no legal means to challenge the state engineer’s quest to kill off Utah’s aquatic ecosystems.

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HB 60 limits the public’s ability to oppose new water diversions across Utah, making it much harder to challenge a diversion that would dry up wetland habitat for birds, impact trout fishing holes, or eliminate riverine migration corridors for big game. Before HB 60 goes to a vote during the legislative session, contact your legislators and tell them to Vote No on HB 60. The future of the Great Salt Lake hangs in the balance.

Tell your legislators to Vote No on HB 60 right now!

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