By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Juab County has been asked to complete a survey which might allow the east part of the county to be included in the proposed High Line Pipeline project.
Byron Woodland, Juab County commissioner, said he and the commission had been working on ways to bring needed water to Juab County and this was one of the ways that might be possible—by joining in on the project now being proposed.
"We do have a water study," said Chad Winn, commission chairman. "Approximately 75 percent of the study cost was paid for by Central Utah Water Conservatory District."
Woodland said, that for the past year and a half, they had been meeting with Highline Canal officials, Central Utah Water Project officials, with the Governor's Office of Economic Development, and had been working to find water which could help out the residents of the area.
"They are contemplating putting in a pipeline," said Woodland.
The county, he said, had been asked to answer a survey stating how much water they would need from the project.
"This may be a way to get some water for Juab County," said Woodland. "It is not something that is decided."
The county, however, will request 20,000 acre-feet of capacity in the pipeline.
"It may be part of the overall puzzle," he said. "It is going to be expensive."
The commission had talked to the Governor's Office of Economic Development about money for a study on the feasibility of the project.
Winn said that it would be a good way to get needed water for the county if the county can afford the cost of getting the water and of being a participant in the project.
The Central Utah Project, which Juab County taxpayers have paid into for years, has brought some benefits of membership to Juab County. Among those are some irrigation water projects and the repeater station built to read the meters of water users in Nephi as part of the billing system.
This is different, however, and is just one of many complicated water issues that need to be considered.
Even on this project, there would be engineering and permitting that would need to be completed before the project could be built and put into service.
If the county were to put water into Goshen, for example, as part of this project, the county may be able to trade for upstream water.
One of the reasons that the county has been supportive of the Houweling Tomato project, aside from the fact that it will be a good project for the county to bring needed jobs and revenue into the county, is that it indicates to the state that Juab County does need water.
"It is one way to show that we need water and we need it now," said Woodland.
The Houweling Tomato Greenhouse needs a significant supply of water. That was one point to use as leverage with the Governor and with Central Utah Water project officials.
The Strawberry High Line Canal Company has been delivering irrigation water for south Utah County in the Strawberry High Line Canal, and its various laterals, continually since 1916. Since that time, urban and residential areas have expanded. Because of the proximity of residential areas to the canal, and other factors, three reaches of the Strawberry High Line Canal have been designated as potential risk locations.
If a pipeline is constructed to allow the water to be contained rather than running free in a canal, it might be of benefit to the county.
