The Central Utah Water Conservancy District ("CUWCD") will install a major water pipeline through Provo starting late September, 2010.  The CUWCD supplies water to cities throughout the state.  It constructs, operates, and manages reservoirs amd water distribution facilities within ten counties in central and eastern Utah. 

 

In the 1950's, the CUWCD, together with other state and federal agencies, began an effort to move Utah's share of Colorado River water in the Uintah Basin to the Wasatch Front.  The effort is called the Central Utah Project ("CUP"), and the final component of the project is called the Utah Lake System ("ULS").  As part of the ULS, the CUWCD will extend a pipeline from Springville through Provo that will convey water to users in Utah and Salt Lake Counties.

 

The project will not supply water to Provo users, but it will supplement flows in the Provo River, which should help facilitate fishing and other recreational uses of the river.

 

Read Mayor Curtis' message about the project in the August 2010 city newsletter here.

The installation will occur in phases.  The route for the first phase ("Provo Reach 1"), up to 400 North, is set.  Coming from south State Street, it will follow along Slate Canyon Drive to 1350 East, then turn north and follow the south and west property line of the Utah State Hospital to the intersection of Center Street and Seven Peaks Boulevard, then continue north along Seven Peaks Boulevard to about 400 North.

 

Provo Reach 1 will start late September, 2010, and is expected to end mid-August, 2011.  The CUWCD's contractor for that phase is W.W. Clyde.  The Provo Reach 1 hotline is 801-360-8413.  For more information visit the Provo Reach 1 website here, or watch a video of the "Meet the Contractor" meeting held on August 31 here.

 

To facilitate construction and minimize truck traffic for Provo Reach 1, Provo City will allow the CUWCD's contractor to store and process some materials on Provo City property in two locations within the construction area--the frisbee park and the old gun range.

 

When construction is complete, the CUWCD's contractor will improve Provo City property in a few significant ways.  It will revegetate and regrade the frisbee park and old gun range, facilitating the city's plans for parks in those areas.  It will also extend curb, gutter, sidewalk, and the bicycle lane from 1400 S. to State Street on the west side of Slate Canyon.  And it will extend the sidewalk along the east side of Slate Canyon Drive about 400-500 feet north.  These improvements have been in the city's plans for a long time, and will now be accelerated and paid for by the CUWCD as part of the pipeline project.

The route for the remaining phases, beyond 400 North, has yet to be determined.  The CUWCD released a draft environmental assessment on August 1 and will hold a public meeting on Thursday, September 16, 2010, from 5-7 p.m., at the Provo City Center, 351 W. Center St.  Read a letter from the CUWCD about the meeting here.  For more information, visit the CUWCD website here, or call 801-226-7100.