Two months ago, I wrote a blog about the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline: White Elephant’s Trunk. If you’re not familiar with the issues, you might want to read it.

After writing about the candidates for City Council in St. George in the blog, All Politics Is Local, I realized that none of the candidates seemed to have a public position on what might be the most significant … and most expensive … public works project that is being considered for Color Country today – something I thought was surpassingly strange.

I resolved to do something about it. I have been able to get an official statement from four of the six candidates. I contacted both Steven Swann and Gilbert Almquist by email and by telephone personally to ask for a short statement but I haven’t received one yet.

Here’s what the candidates think about the Lake Powell Pipeline:

Ed Baca

I believe you are right about the importance of the Lake Powell Pipeline. It is a very large undertaking with many issues. I will be direct in answering your question. I do not believe the pipeline issue should be used as a tool to control growth. It has to be looked at for what it is. Water is the lifeline for human life and it is the lifeline for our community, cities and region. Our ecomony present and future is tied to water. Utahs share of the Colorado River water must of necessity be secured. Failure to act will result in Arizona, Nevada and California taking the water. I believe we must protect our vital interest and that means securing our water. This will impact future generations and I therefore support the construction of the Lake Powell Pipeline. I also believe that we should continue to work to utilize present known sources and develope improved storage capacity and methods. We should keep working on conservation as well.

Benjamin Nickle

My great fear about the Lake Powell pipeline is that it is a scheme to make St. George grow even faster than it already is. I am afraid I cannot support it until someone can convince me otherwise. If the true purpose of the pipeline is ensure water stays at affordable rates for Southern Utahns and that water rationing isnt necessary here then I am willing to change my mind. I believe that I am unique in that I am the only candidate to publicly oppose the pipeline.

Jon Pike

I don’t really know how we could get 70,000 acre feet of water per year in any other way, so I think we’ve got to pursue it.  I want to understand how we’ll pay for it, and how we’d be affected if growth were to slow down (in terms of paying for it).  But I am very much for the pipeline.  I met with Ron Thompson and had a great discussion about water for our county a few weeks ago.  I learned a lot and respect his knowledge on the subject.  I’ve also spoken with state and local leaders on this subject.  All this has led me to my current position.

Gloria Shakespeare

I believe the Lake Powell Pipeline is one of the solutions for our water needs in the future, but not thee only solution as it will not suffice the total needs of the region in years ahead. The water in Lake Powell is already rightfully ours from the Colorado Compact. It will provide enough water to take care of 210 thousand people in Washington County. One of the advantages of this pipeline, is that Sand Hollow Reservoir leaks like a sieve, so in our wet years the water will fill the aquifers below; which is a big plus. The State of Utah will not issue anymore well permits. The question needs to be raised “If we don’t tap into this water, where do we go? And If we don’t use it, will we loose it?

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Watch this space! I’ll add my own critique about these comments in a future blog. But for now, I thought the candidates’ statements should stand alone.