What do southern Utah MAGA Republican politicians, the worsening climate crisis, more severe water shortages, the Colorado River Compact, and the skyrocketing federal budget deficit have in common?
The answer is the proposed federal Cove Reservoir project in Utah’s Kane and Washington counties. This is a 1950s-era boondoggle water project where the public pays and wealthy private development and agricultural interests profit. It does not respect the climate crisis nor severe water shortages. And it would add to the federal budget deficit or squander federal funds that instead could be used for bona fide and beneficial watershed restoration methods.
This project would divert Virgin River water for storage behind a new dam and reservoir, with the water to be used for new (incredibly wasteful) summer alfalfa and new additional unsustainable urban sprawl. If successful, this would be the second time (after Kanab Creek water was diverted into the Jackson Flat reservoir) for Utah’s MAGA Republicans to circumvent the Colorado River Compact/Law of the River. They keep working to divert Lower Basin water that would otherwise flow into the Colorado River.
The project proponents are using agriculture as their “Trojan horse” for what will ultimately mostly benefit developers. As a quarter-century Washington County resident, I have questions. Is it appropriate to keep diverting water from our beautiful streams and rivers for new wasteful purposes? Is it fair for Utah to take some water that Lower Basin states may be entitled to receive? Should Utah be allowed to avoid federal Lower Basin water conservation requirements when using Lower Basin water?
More detailed information on the Cove Reservoir project is available on the nrcs.usda.gov website. The public may submit comments through Nov. 2. But the decision is likely already MAGA politically determined. Opposition from the Lower Basin states (Nevada, Arizona, California) may be the only hope of stopping this boondoggle. And please vote blue if you are tired of the endless MAGA Republican corruption.
Richard Spotts, St. George