The Senate on Thursday passed HB45, which would allow planning and preconstruction to begin on the estimated $680 million dam/reservoir/pipeline project in northern Utah. Approved by a 21-6 vote, the bill now goes to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to be signed into law. The House passed the bill earlier this month.

Sponsored by Rep. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, HB45 would authorize the state to provide seed money to northern Utah water districts in the form of loans to begin purchasing property and rights of way, as well as start environmental and engineering studies.

The bill would peel away a previous requirement that 70 percent of the Bear River project's water be contracted for before work could begin. That requirement now only applies to actual construction. But an amendment added to the bill would allow the Bear River project to be built in phases.

State water officials doubt the Bear River project will be needed for at least several decades. But proponents have argued that the time to begin planning and purchasing property should happen sooner rather than later.

Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake City, questioned the need for Bear River water. The Division of Water Resources estimates an annual northern Utah water shortfall of only about 20,000 acre-feet by 2050. The Bear River project will deliver more than 200,000 acre-feet of water yearly to Cache, Box Elder, Weber, Davis and Salt Lake counties.

"My concern is that this will open everything up," said McCoy. "You get $10 or $20 million invested, and you feel like, well, we're so far in we might as well finish it - when we didn't even need to go down that road."

Environmentalists who have fought the Bear River proposal from its inception - largely because of its potential negative impacts on the river system and Great Salt Lake wetlands - say they will keep fighting the project.

"It's a disappointment, but this does not mean the Bear River will be dammed. It's just one step," said Erin Neyrey of the Utah Rivers Council.

Bear River opponents are still hopeful that HB47, which would lift the sales tax cap on the fund that provides loans for water projects - and would provide much of the Bear River project's start-up money - will be stymied. It has passed the House, but has yet to be debated in the Senate.

jbaird@sltrib.com

WATER

PLAN