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HB 240

“Does the bill sponsor vote for these amendments?”

“Damn right I do.” – Keven Stratton

What sort of bill would invoke such passion, especially considering that the sponsor allocates himself “one swear a year”? One that would add increased protection to a unique and precious natural resource: Utah Lake. One that was supported by thousands of people who wanted to protect their lake from greedy developers who desired to wrest it from the public’s hands and then proceed to tear it apart.

House bill 272 needs to be repealed. That was the battle cry for many advocates of Utah Lake almost since the day that bill was first passed in 2018. What was so problematic with this bill that caused such vehement opposition? In a nutshell it opened up the possibility for the bed of Utah Lake to be given away to an organization that stated they could meet several requirements of improving and restoring the lake. Interestingly, nowhere in the bill was there mentioned that the restoration efforts had to be started or even effective, just that it was a possibility. It would be easy to let this slide, but Ben Abbott noticed and sensed that something shady might be happening behind the scenes. He didn’t have to wait long before things started coming to light.

First, a company called “Lake Restoration Solutions” submitted a proposal that called for restoration by dredging the lake and building islands. This was the only proposal submitted to the state and therefore was the one chosen. Several citizens were alarmed by this and started petitioning the government to stop such a radical project. This was effective for a time but then near the end of 2021 the company was going to have a “meet the experts” event at the capitol. Ben organized a resistance group with Conserve Utah Valley to fight against these developers and thus the “Don’t Pave Utah Lake” initiative was born.

Criticized by some as inflammatory and hyperbolic, this campaign became the battle cry of those who opposed the islands. It also became the driving force behind the push to repeal HB 272 and led to the sponsorship of HB 240 by Representative Keven Stratton. This bill wasn’t what was asked for, but it was a good step in the right direction. Rather than repealing HB 272, this bill would amend it to increase transparency. CUV worked closely with Representative Stratton to ensure that HB 240 provided additional protections from the development of Utah Lake by altering how the land can be disposed of. Previously, the land could only be given away by the Division of Forestry, Fires, and State Lands (FFSL). This bill, which was passed by the Senate on March 3, 2022, removed that authority from FFSL and now only allows them to recommend the disposal of lake land to the Governor and Legislature who then must sign a joint resolution in order for the land to be transferred to another party. This bill also added a few extra provisions to the requirements of disposal. These include the requirement that the disposal of land must be constitutionally sound and legal, as well as fiscally sound and fair method for the restoration of Utah Lake.

HB 232: Utah Lake Authority

Representative Brady Brammer had big dreams to pass big legislation. Growing up in Utah Valley he had fond memories of Utah Lake. But he also remembered it often being fairly gross. It was still gross, actually, and he wanted that to change. Back in 2009 a group was formed to look after the lake. This was the Utah Lake Commission. But the commission wasn’t particularly robust. It couldn’t raise money and didn’t really have the power to make binding decisions. In fact, all it could really do was create a Master Management Plan and help enforce that plan. Even with this limited power it had organized and helped manage several successful restoration efforts such as the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program. But Brammer knew that there was the potential for something a lot greater.

In 2021, Representative Brammer sponsored a bill that would create an Authority to manage Utah Lake. It appeared to be heavily based on the Inland Port Authority in Salt Lake City. The IPA was regarded as a failure in public participation and transparency which led many people to oppose Brammer’s initial draft for the Utah Lake Authority. It failed to pass in the House and that was the end for the bill in that session. But Representative Brammer was determined to persevere with his bill and began meeting with government agencies and other organizations to refine the language and create something that everyone could get behind. After months of preparation the bill was finally ready to review.

In the committee hearing Brammer made it clear that this bill was neutral regarding the islands project and wasn’t designed to facilitate any specific agenda. He wanted it to be transparent and recognized that it would need refinement over time. Eventually the bill passed both the house and the senate and was made into law. (maybe cue the School House Rock bill video)

The Utah Lake Authority officially organized on July 21, 2022 and has been meeting every other month since. As of the March of 2023, the board was still in the process of revising the bylaws. These would govern how the ULA operates, what budget they will have, and what sort of advisory committees will be created. For the 2023 legislative session Brady Brammer submitted a simple revision that will ensure that only cities within a half-mile of the lake will be represented on the Board.

In addition to the bylaws, the ULA contracted with an independent group to create the Master Management Plan for Utah Lake. There was a 30 day public comment period during which many people submitted requests for the plan to ensure that it effectively managed the lake.

Agriculture and urban wastewater have increased the availability of nutrients in 2/3rds of waterbodies worldwide. Nutrients are a good thing, but too much of a good thing is a bad thing! An overload of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus can create a condition called eutrophication. This can cause an overgrowth of algae and cyanobacteria, commonly called a harmful algal bloom. When the algae die, they can consume the oxygen in the water, which creates dead zones that kill off most life and release pollutants from the sediment. The harmful algal blooms can also produce toxins that can make animals (including humans) sick or possibly even kill them.

Utah Lake experiences eutrophication periodically throughout the year, especially near places that receive more outside nutrients such as by wastewater treatment plants and near farms. Provo Bay is where there are the most consistent algal blooms. However, Utah Lake as a whole actually has fewer algal blooms on average than most lakes throughout the United States.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was signed into 1973 by President Nixon. Considered one of the most aggressive pieces of environmental legislation, the ESA prohibits any action that could jeopardize the continued existence of an endangered or threatened species. In order to support the recovery of endangered and threatened species, the ESA includes the provision for declaring “critical habitat”. This is essentially any habitat that supports the existence of the endangered species.

The ESA is what played a major role in the recovery of the June Sucker. In April of 1986, the June Sucker was listed as endangered. Once number in the millions, the fish population had declined to only a few hundred. After being listed as endangered, the federal government was able to come in and direct funding towards saving the June Sucker. In 1999, nine organizations joined forces to create the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program. Widely considered one of the best examples of collaborative restoration work, this program successfully boosted the June Sucker population from around 300 in the 1990s to nearly 50,000 fish in 2023. In February 2021, the June Sucker was officially down listed from endangered to threatened status.

The June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program has several aspects to it. The main goal of the program is to improve the ability of young June Suckers to survive into adulthood. One part of accomplishing this is creating new and improving existing spawning and living habitat. Another is controlling invasive fish species that prey on the June Sucker. In addition, the program has several fish farms where June Suckers are bred and raised in captivity until they are large enough to survive in the wild. The combination of these efforts is what has made the recovery program a major success.

Dredging means removing the sediment on the bottom of a body of water by scraping it up. It is commonly used to deepen lakes and rivers, especially when a dock needs to be built. Occasionally dredging is used for water restoration but only in small amounts. It can be effective for removing contaminated or nutrient rich sediment from the lake or riverbed.

- Algal blooms: Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) can be harmful to both human and ecosystem health. The primary risk is from drinking the water with the toxic algae and cyanobacteria. Can also reduce economic benefits from the area by decreasing recreation opportunities and killing of the plants and animals.

o Major fish kills

o Threatens drinking water

o Toxic to living things

§ Waterborne pathogens

- Lakebed drying up: if the lakebed was dredged and deepened, a large portion of the shoreline would be exposed. This has the potential to cause dust storms from the sediment that is no longer covered by water. In addition, the wetlands around the lake would likely be impacted. Wetlands act as natural filters for nutrients and toxic materials before they enter the lake.

- Dredging: there would be a lot of dust and noise pollution generated during the dredging process because of how much of the lakebed would be disturbed.

1. The scientific community has released fives sets of documents on the project:

a. An overview of the Utah Lake ecosystem, including its history, current status, and potential futures (Jul 29 2022): Getting to know the Utah Lake Ecosystem

b. A public letter of warning about the content of the proposal and the tactics of LRS (Dec. 29 2021): Island proposal could severely damage Utah Lake

c. A magazine adaptation of the Getting to Know the Utah Lake Ecosystem article above with photos from community members (Feb. 7 2022): Utah Lake: An Ecosystem in Recovery

d. A review of LRS's Army Corps application (Feb. 14 2022): Utah Lake island application lacks restoration plan and fails to demonstrate benefits or need

e. An overview of comments to the Army Corps about LRS's application (May 16 2022): Utah Lake island application draws questions and criticism from across the country

2. The most in-depth journalism has been done by Brian Maffly and colleagues at the Salt Lake Tribune:

a. Jan. 20 2018: Known for toxic algae, Utah Lake could become a housing development for half a million people

b. Feb. 21 2018: Lawmakers back giving developers parts of Utah Lake for an island subdivision — in exchange for fixing the polluted lake’s many problems

c. Aug. 5 2021: Utah Lake can be saved without massive dredging sought by developers, experts say

d. Dec. 7 2021: Will EPA help fund Utah Lake island-building project?

e. Jan. 19 2022: Utah Lake dredging proponents sue BYU professor who criticized project

f. Feb. 1 2022: Artificial islands as real estate? The murky finances behind the Utah Lake Restoration project

g. Feb. 2 2022: Facing $3 million lawsuit, scientist countersues Utah Lake's would-be dredgers

h. Feb. 2 2022: Federal docs give first look at Utah Lake plan to build islands for real estate

i. Feb. 12 2022: Company experts say dredging Utah Lake will be its salvation. Here's why critics oppose the project

j. Feb. 23 2022: Utah lawmakers move to tighten requirements for Utah Lake island real estate project

k. Feb. 17 2022: Proposed Utah Lake Authority sails through House committee, but faced some public criticism

l. Mar. 8 2022: Would Utah Lake dredging really increase Utah's water supply? Don't bet on it.

m. Mar. 28 2022: Would dredging Utah Lake upset a century of peace over water rights?

n. Mar. 31 2022: How Utah Lake once sustained tribes and Mormon pioneers and why it needs help

o. Jun. 8 2022: Facing $3 million lawsuit, dredging foe files ‘anti-SLAPP’ action

p. Aug. 9 2022: Polling shows strong support for Utah Lake dredging, but critics say the survey is biased

q. Aug. 17 2022: The Utah Lake dredging proposal is not legal, officials tell lawmakers

r. Oct. 13 2022: Army Corps pauses Utah Lake dredging permit, citing lack of documentation supporting the project

s. Oct. 27 2022: Utah Lake dredging project rejected by Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands

t. Dec. 6 2022: Utah Lake’s would-be dredgers demand controversial island project be reinstated

u. Jan. 12 2023: Plan to dredge Utah Lake isn’t sunk. Developers sue the state to revive it.

3. The Daily Herald has done some excellent coverage on the project, with most articles by Genelle Pugmire and Ashtyn Asay:

a. Dec. 7 2021: Plan to restore Utah Lake met with resistance from Utah County conservation groups 

b. Dec. 30 2021: More than a hundred ecologists, engineers and environmental scientists sign letter denouncing Utah Lake proposal

c. Jan. 12 2022: Utah Lake Summit provides insight on body’s future

d. Feb. 10 2022: Vineyard gets first look at Utah Lake restoration project 

e. Feb. 25 2022: Stratton, Conserve Utah Valley hold town hall after House vote

f. Mar. 18 2022: Utah Lake Restoration Project must complete Environmental Impact Statement

g. Apr. 16 2022: Documents probe Vineyard letter supporting Utah Lake Restoration Project

h. May 5 2022: Local leaders reconvene for second Utah Lake Summit

i. Jun. 11 2022: Benjamin Abbott files anti-SLAPP motion against Lake Restoration Solutions

j. Jun. 11 2022: BYU professor presents '7 more problems' with Utah Lake Restoration Project

k. Aug. 17 2022: Environmental group polls show lack of support for Utah Lake Restoration Project

l. Aug. 19 2022: Utah Lake Restoration Project called ‘not legally sound’ by state agency director

m. Aug. 23 2022: Utah Valley Earth Forum to host public panel on Utah Lake restoration efforts

n. Aug. 24 2022: UVEF hosts public forum on Utah Lake restoration efforts

o. Oct. 27 2022: State agency cancels Utah Lake island proposal from Lake Restoration Solutions

p. Dec. 13 2022: Denial of Vineyard records request the subject of state committee hearing

q. Dec. 17 2022: Records committee: Vineyard appropriately handled GRAMA requests

r. Jan. 13 2023: Lake Restoration Solutions sues Utah over canceled plan to dredge Utah Lake

s. Jan. 25 2023: Judge tosses Utah Lake dredger’s defamation suit against scientist, ruling it abused the legal system

4. Kyle Dunphey, Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Benoît Morenne, and others at the Deseret News have run several pieces on the lake:

a. Oct. 20 2021: Is it really time to build islands on Utah Lake?

b. Oct. 22 2021: Man-made islands could change Utah Lake forever. Here are 6 things you need to know

c. Jan. 14 2022: What does the future hold for Utah Lake development, ecosystem?

d. Jan. 20 2022: The contentious debate over the future of Utah Lake heats up as developer sue critic

e. Feb. 1 2022: BYU professor pushed back on allegations of defamation from Utah Lake developers

f. Feb. 12 2022: Opposition mounting against Utah Lake project, developers say 'trust is gained over time'

g. Feb. 26 2022: 2 bills lawmakers say will steer Utah Lake toward a cleaner future gaining steam in legislature

h. Aug. 8 2022: Dredging up the past

i. Aug. 25 2022: After state strikes island idea, what’s next in the effort to restore Utah Lake?

j. Oct. 27 2022: State rejects massive project to dredge Utah Lake and build islands

5. BYU's student paper, the Daily Universe has run a series of articles on the lake and the project:

a. Jan 10 2022: BYU environmental advocates take stand against Utah Lake development

b. Feb. 1 2022: BYU professor named defendant in defamation lawsuit, says suit has implications for future of Utah Lake 

c. Feb. 7 2022: Utahns rally on Capitol Hill to protest Utah Lake development

d. Feb. 11 2022: Utah Lake Restoration Project under federal review to evaluate environmental impact 

e. Mar. 9 2022: Community project to revive Vineyard wetlands put on hold

6. Utah Business has also run four pieces:

a. Dec. 10 2021: Utah is building the largest artificial islands in the world

b. Feb. 15 2022: How should we decide the fate of Utah Lake?

c. Jun. 3 2022: Will human-made islands improve Utah Lake—or will it become “the Dubai of Utah?

d. Oct. 25 2022: Utah Lake building project moves forward as the public remains divided.

7. There have been three podcasts covering the drama:

a. Doug Fabrizio at Radio West did a two-part series on the lake and the island project:

i. Feb. 24 2022: The Past, Present and Future of Utah Lake: Part I

ii. Mar. 10 2022: The Past, Present and Future of Utah Lake: Part II

b. Jeff Beck hosted local community experts Peggy and Rich on his podcast Left of the Lake:

i. Jul. 21 2022: Islands in Utah Lake Part I

ii. Jul. 28 2022: Islands in Utah Lake Part II

iii. Jan. 5 2023: Ben Abbott and the Utah Lake Island Project

c. Conserve Utah Valley's Utah Lake Update has provided quick snippets over the past year:

i. Jan. 28 2022: A Lake in Recovery

ii. Jan. 31 2022: Islands on the Lake

iii. Feb. 16 2022: Utah Lake Authority (HB 232)

iv. Feb. 16 2022: The Legislators are Listening (HB 240)

v. Nov. 14 2022: Can I Take Down My Yard Sign? 

vi. Nov. 14 2022: Post-Island Utah Lake

8. There have also been several written pieces across other platforms:

a. abc4.com (Dec. 8 2021): Islands in Utah Lake? Maybe, now that a restoration project has been waitlisted for an EPA loan

b. KSL (Jan. 14, 2022; this is the article that broke the lawsuit story. It originally had the misleading title that included "sued for false statements", but they updated the headline): BYU assistant professor sued for statements about Utah Lake project

c. KSL (Feb. 3 2022): Developer discusses plan to revive, restore Utah Lake

d. abc4.com (Mar. 16 2022): U.S. Army Corps accelerates Utah Lake Restoration

e. The Center Square (Jul. 8 2022): Tug of war over water conservation in Utah

f. KUTV (Aug. 17 2022): Utah Lake islands plan 'unconstitutional' and legally unsound, official tells lawmakers

g. KSL (Aug. 22 2022): $6B Utah Lake restoration project is 'unconstitutional,' state report finds

h. KSL (Aug. 24 2022): After state strikes island idea, what's next in the effort to restore Utah Lake?

i. KSL (Dec. 7 2022): Developer behind Utah Lake islands project appeals state's decision to scrap application

j. The Real Deal (Dec. 11 2022): Utah company to appeal state pulling plug on $6B lake proposal

k. Fox 13 (Jan. 12 2023): Lawsuit filed over Utah Lake islands project

l. Fox 13 (Feb. 4 2023): State wants Utah Lake islands lawsuit thrown out

9. It's harder to compile the radio coverage, but there has been pretty frequent coverage on KSL, and Aimee Van Tatenhove and her colleagues at Utah Public Radio (UPR) and KUER have done a nice series of interviews and pieces on the lake:

a. KUER (Jan. 11 2022): A storm is brewing over the future of Utah Lake

b. UPR (Jan. 24 2022): A deep dive into Utah Lake: Part 1

c. KSL news radio (Feb. 1 2022): BYU professor files countersuit against Utah Lake developer

d. KSL Dave & Dujanovic (Feb. 2 2022): Interview with Jon Benson

e. UPR (Feb. 04 2022): Public comment period open for permit application to dredge Utah Lake

f. UPR (Feb. 10 2022): A deep dive into Utah Lake: Part 2

g. UPR (Feb. 10 2022): Utah Lake amendments bill passes in committee

h. Rod Arquette (Feb. 16 2022): Interview with Jon Benson

i. UPR (Mar. 04 2022): New website to increase public involvement with proposed Utah Lake project

j. KUER (May 5 2022): Utah Lake's June Sucker is threatened and this project hopes to put its house back in order

k. KSL at Night (May 11 2022): Taylor Morgan & Maura Carabello interview Greg Hughes

l. The Daily Buzz (Jun. 9 2022): What to know about the Utah Lake anti-SLAPP lawsuit

m. KSL news radio (Aug. 8 2022): Poll shows support in Utah County for the Utah Lake Restoration Project

n. KUER (Aug. 18 2022): State Agency calls Utah Lake Restoration project 'unconstitutional' and 'a risk'

o. KSL news radio (Aug. 18 2022): Utah Lake restoration called “unconstitutional” by state agency

p. UPR (Oct. 14 2022): Scientist says Utah Lake shows how a community can protect the environment

q. KSL news radio (Oct. 27 2022): Utah Lake restoration application canceled by Division of Forestry

r. Dave & Dujanovic (Nov. 2 2022): Utah Lake restoration project pulled

s. KSL news radio (Dec. 7 2022): Lake Restoration Solutions in legal battle over Utah Lake

10. There has also been quite a bit of TV coverage, though that is harder to find and compile:

a. abc4utah (Aug. 3 17 2021): Researchers are holding an emergency symposium on Utah Lake

b. Fox 13 (Dec. 6 2021): Utah Lake on shortlist for nearly $1 billion in federal funds

c. Fox 13 (Feb. 2 2022): Plans to build islands in Utah Lake as part of restoration project move forward

d. abc4utah (Feb. 7 2022): Protest against developers making islands on Utah Lake

e. Fox 13 (Feb. 7 2022): Demonstrators rally at Capitol Hill to protest plans for Utah Lake restoration project

f. Fox 13 (Feb. 8 2022): Bill regulating Utah Lake dredging passes through House committee

g. abc4utah (Feb. 24 2022): Push back on Utah Lake dredging project

h. Fox 13 (May 16 2022): The future of Utah Lake

i. abc4utah (Aug. 8 2022): New poll divides Utahns over Utah Lake

j. Fox 13 (Aug. 17 2022): Utah Lake proposed dredging plan stopped in its tracks

k. KUTV (Aug. 18 2022): Opponents of Utah Lake islands project feel emboldened after legal issues revealed

l. Fox 13 (Oct. 27 2022): Utah Lake islands project is rejected by state officials

m. Fox 13 (Dec. 5 2022): Company appeals state rejection of Utah Lake islands project

n. Fox 13 (Jan. 11 2023): Utah again rejects Utah Lake islands project

11. Governor Cox has held two press conferences that addressed LRS's proposal. In both, he repeated LRS talking points:

a. Feb. 17 2022: Comparing Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake

b. Aug. 18 2022: Addressing FFSL's announcement that LRS's project was unconstitutional

12. There have been some important online videos created on the project:

a. The TikTok influencer and lake conservationist Geodesaurus made this informative 3-minute overview of the lake island controversy (Mar. 27 2022): Utah Lake artificial islands 🏝 ??

b. BYU graduate and documentary filmmaker Leika Patch put together this piece (Apr. 12 2022): Utah Lake an ecosystem in recovery

c. Angela Smith choreographed this dance film about the lake and the island project (May 11 2022): A time for action

13. There have been a lot of diverse op-eds over the past few years:

a. Jon Benson, LRS president wrote this one shortly after the lawsuit went public (Jan. 24 2022): Opinion: Utah Lake project welcomes constructive criticism

b. George Handley wrote this response to Jon's op-ed (Feb. 6 2022): The myth of the irreparable Utah Lake

c. Robert Scott, an LRS original who was the general manager of design and planning on the failed Palm Deira project in Dubai wrote this classic (Mar. 3 2018): There’s still time to turn back the clock on Utah Lake

d. Former LRS "creator and project director" Ben Parker wrote this (Mar. 4 2018): Massive project is needed to save Utah Lake

e. Two BYU professors and Yale Law student Andrew Follett wrote this piece on the history and future of the lake (Mar. 8 2018): The present, future and past of Utah Lake 

f. Andrew Follett and Ben Abbott followed up the sciencey post with this piece on the cultural aspects of the project (Mar. 10 2018): Keep Utah Lake shallow and wet

g. A graduate student from Logan named Toph Cottle wrote this pro-island piece (Jul. 22 2022):

h. Don Jarvis and Ben Abbott wrote this piece about good intentions (Dec. 2 2021): 'Bear service' at Utah Lake

i. Christopher Smart wrote this short (if somewhat inaccurate) piece (Dec. 15 2021): Islands in Utah Lake could be built on B.S. 

j. Adam Stevenson wrote this moving personal and philosophical article in The Utah Monthly (Dec. 19 2021): In Defense of Utah Lake

k. Joel Campbell wrote this piece from a legal perspective (Jan. 21 2022): Opinion: Don’t let Utah Lake project muzzle criticism

l. Joel Kester wrote this simple but touching letter (Jan. 21 2022): Letter: Why can’t enough people see the nonmonetary value of Utah Lake?

m. Local author John Bennion wrote this clear opinion (Jan. 26 2022): Guest op-ed: Dubai islands in Utah Lake — a dubious project

n. Another Jarvis-Abbott team-up (Jan. 28 2022): Guest op-ed: Don't Pave Utah Lake?

o. This one by Jon is not nearly as funny, but is still worth reading as it encapsulates the fundamental false premise of their proposition (Feb. 9 2022): Guest opinion: The threat of doing nothing on Utah Lake

p. Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment wrote this blog post (Feb. 15 2022): Company experts say dredging Utah Lake will be its salvation. Here's why critics oppose the project.

q. Jon Benson wrote this revealing op-ed about asserting that only he can help the lake (Feb. 17 2022): The question is, ‘Who will pay for Utah Lake to be restored?’

r. Babs Delay wrote this piece in Urban Living (Feb. 23 2022): Utaw Lake

s. Ph.D. ecologist Tara Bishop responded with this cutting retort, comparing LRS's behavior to an abusive relationship (Apr. 7 2022): Who will pay for Utah Lake to be destroyed?

t. Jim Harris wrote this effective and short letter to the editor (Feb. 24 2022): Let's not spend billions to turn Utah Lake into a Disneyesque theme park

u. BYU law student Brittany Thorley wrote this clear opinion (Mar. 10 2022): One reason why I'll never support the Utah Lake islands project

v. LRS advocate Daniela Larsen of the Hutchings Museum in Lehi wrote this defense of the proposal (Mar. 16 2022): Let science and facts determine future of Utah Lake

w. Another BYU student, Danny Dudley, wrote this fiery piece (Mar. 23 2022): THE UTAH LAKE EXPLOITATION PROJECT

x. Bennion added this critique of the project from his perspective as an English professor (Apr. 7 2022): Arguments for dredging Utah Lake don't hold up

y. Tessa Scheuer wrote this thoughtful piece on the impacts of the island city on birds (May 19 2022): Have we considered the birds in the Utah Lake Restoration Project?

z. Maddie Mulford of Rowland Hall wrote this blog post with the memorable line, "Save the lake, don't pave the lake" (Jun. 2 2022): Save Utah Lake: Bad for the environment, bad for residents, bad for business

aa. Mapleton resident Fred Murray wrote this direct letter (Jul. 16 2022): Thoughts and facts about LRS’s plan on Utah Lake

bb. Saratoga Springs resident Teri Lynn Harman wrote this compelling letter (Jun. 19 2022): Lake Restoration Solutions is taking advantage of old lies about Utah Lake

cc. Harman's letter inspired this piece by Marilyn Marshal (Jun. 26 2022): Utah Lake islands plan is an environmental disaster waiting to happen

dd. BYU professor Shawn Miller wrote this piece about why we can't afford to give up any of Utah Lake (Jul. 26 2022): What we stand to lose if we give up ground on Utah Lake

ee. Jim Westwater, one of the original defenders of Utah Lake and the chair of the Utah Valley Earth Forum wrote this piece for the Daily Herald and Salt Lake Tribune (Jul. 30 2022; Aug. 3 2022): Developer’s plan for Utah Lake threatens to be an ‘unmitigated disaster’

ff. Jonathan D. Hepworth wrote this self-explanatory piece (Aug. 12 2022): What do Utah Lake, human-made islands, and an earthquake equal? Disaster

gg. Roger Williams from Provo wrote this succinct and misguided recommendation to use LRS's money to build a pipeline from the Pacific (Aug. 25 2022): A new proposal for Utah Lake's future

hh. Brigham Daniels and Andrew Follett wrote this legal analysis of FFSL's decision to reject the project (Nov. 3 2022): Utah was on firm legal ground rejecting Utah Lake project

ii. John Bennion wrote this cautionary op-ed to keep people vigilant (Jan. 12 2023): Watch that Utah Lake scheme doesn’t come back

jj. Joel Kester wrote this postmortem on the project, urging lawmakers to look to the future (Jan. 18 2023): Let’s shift focus to the millions of gallons of sewage flowing into Utah Lake

14. LRS's paid content (here is their own media page):

a. Nugent Good News (Dec. 27 2021): Restoring Utah Lake

b. abc4 Good Things Utah (Feb. 2 2022): The biggest water restoration project in Utah's history needs your support

c. Fresh Living (Feb. 9 2022): Utah Lake Restoration proposition

d. abc4 The Daily Dish (Mar. 22 2022): One step closer to cleaning Utah Lake

e. KSL (Mar. 24 2022): Working together to save Utah Lake

f. abc4 Good Things Utah (Apr. 20 2022): How Utah Lake Restoration project is saving 30 billion gallons of water every year

g. Studio 5 (Apr. 27 2022): Here's how one group plans to restore Utah Lake to its former beauty

h. Fox 13 The Place (May 03 2022): The Utah Lake Restoration Project is a plan to restore and improve Utah Lake

i. KUTV Fresh Living (May 03 2022): Update on the Utah Lake Restoration Project

j. KUTV Fresh Living (Jul. 6 2022): Potential changes coming to Utah Lake

k. Fox 13 The Place (Jul. 6 2022): Don't swim in Utah Lake!