1     
UTAH LAKE AMENDMENTS

2     
2022 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton

5     
Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

6     Cosponsors:
7     Nelson T. Abbott
8     Gay Lynn Bennion
9     Joel K. Briscoe
10     Jefferson S. Burton
Kay J. Christofferson
Marsha Judkins
Rosemary T. Lesser
Jefferson Moss
Doug Owens
Val L. Peterson
Norman K. Thurston
Stephen L. Whyte

11     

12     LONG TITLE
13     General Description:
14          This bill modifies provisions of the Utah Lake Restoration Act.
15     Highlighted Provisions:
16          This bill:
17          ▸     modifies the authority given to the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, with
18     respect to the disposal of Utah Lake land in exchange for the comprehensive
19     restoration of Utah Lake under a restoration proposal, from authority to dispose of
20     land to authority to make a recommendation for the disposal of the land;
21          ▸     requires the approval of the Legislature and governor for the disposal of Utah Lake
22     land in exchange for the comprehensive restoration of Utah Lake under a restoration
23     proposal; and
24          ▸     requires the division to prepare recommendations on objectives of the Utah Lake
25     restoration and report those recommendations to the Natural Resources, Agriculture,
26     and Environment Interim Committee.
27     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
28          None
29     Other Special Clauses:
30          None
31     Utah Code Sections Affected:
32     AMENDS:
33          65A-15-201, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 381
34     

35     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
36          Section 1. Section 65A-15-201 is amended to read:
37          65A-15-201. Division recommendation on disposal of state land in exchange for
38     Utah Lake restoration project -- Approval of Legislature and governor required --
39     Criteria -- Division recommendations for defining and meeting objectives.
40          (1) (a) [Subject to the approval of the Legislative Management Committee, the] The
41     division may [dispose] recommend the disposal of appropriately available state land in and
42     around Utah Lake as compensation for the comprehensive restoration of Utah Lake under a
43     restoration proposal if the division finds that the restoration project will enhance the following
44     public benefits:
45          [(a)] (i) [restore] restoring the clarity and quality of the water in Utah Lake;
46          [(b)] (ii) [conserve] conserving water resources in and around Utah Lake;
47          [(c)] (iii) [preserve] preserving the water storage and water supply functions of Utah
48     Lake;
49          [(d)] (iv) [remove] removing invasive plant and animal species, including phragmites
50     and carp, from Utah Lake;
51          [(e)] (v) [restore] restoring littoral zone and other plant communities in and around
52     Utah Lake;
53          [(f)] (vi) [restore] restoring and [conserve] conserving native fish and other aquatic
54     species in Utah Lake, including Bonneville cutthroat trout and June Sucker;
55          [(g)] (vii) [increase] increasing the suitability of Utah Lake and its surrounding areas
56     for shore birds, waterfowl, and other avian species;
57          [(h)] (viii) [improve] improving navigability of Utah Lake;
58          [(i)] (ix) [maximize, enhance, and ensure] maximizing, enhancing, and ensuring
59     recreational access and opportunities on Utah Lake;
60          [(j)] (x) [preserve] preserving current water rights related to water associated with Utah
61     Lake; [and]
62          [(k)] (xi) otherwise [improve] improving the use of Utah Lake for residents and
63     visitors[.];
64          (xii) substantially accommodating an existing use on land in or around Utah Lake; and
65          (xiii) providing any other benefits identified by the division.
66          (b) If the division chooses to make a recommendation under Subsection (1)(a), the
67     division shall make the recommendation in writing to the Legislature and governor.
68          (2) In determining whether to [dispose] recommend the disposal of state land in
69     exchange for the execution of a restoration project, as provided in Subsection (1)(a) and
70     pursuant to a restoration proposal, the division shall consider:
71          (a) the potential that the restoration project presents for additional revenue to state and
72     local government entities;
73          (b) the ability of the proposed use of the state land given in exchange for the restoration
74     project to enhance state property adjacent to Utah Lake;
75          (c) the proposed timetable for completion of the restoration project;
76          (d) the ability of the person who submits a restoration project to execute and complete
77     the restoration project satisfactorily; and
78          (e) the desirability of the proposed use of Utah Lake and the surrounding areas as a
79     result of the restoration project.
80          (3) The Legislature and governor may, through the adoption of a concurrent resolution,
81     authorize the disposal of state land in and around Utah Lake as compensation for the
82     comprehensive restoration of Utah Lake under a restoration proposal if:
83          (a) the division recommends the disposal as provided in Subsection (1); and
84          (b) the Legislature and governor make a determination, in a concurrent resolution
85     adopted under this Subsection (3), that:
86          (i) the restoration project will accomplish the objectives listed in Subsection (1)(a); and
87          (ii) the disposal is:
88          (A) a fiscally sound and fair method of providing for the comprehensive restoration of
89     Utah Lake; and
90          (B) constitutionally sound and legal.
91          (4) In support of the required permitting application for a restoration project, the
92     division shall:
93          (a) prepare recommendations for standards, criteria, and thresholds to define more
94     specifically the objectives listed in Subsections (1)(a) and (3)(b)(ii) and how and when those
95     objectives are to be met;
96          (b) report on the division's efforts under Subsection (4)(a) to the Natural Resources,
97     Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee, as requested by the committee chairs; and
98          (c) upon completion of recommendations under Subsection (4)(a), present the
99     recommendations to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee.