Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Drought doubts
This summer's heat coupled with last winter's low snow pack has sparked a fresh round of debates about whether the current drought is part of a normal cycle or a symptom of global warming. If it is just a temporary 'dry spell' and everyone cuts back on watering their lawns, then there isn't much to worry about. But what if this is part of a long-term climate shift and both Park City and Summit County continue to turn over new ground for neighborhoods and commercial centers? Are we headed for a serious water crisis? What do you think - summer heat wave or global warming and are local water restrictions too tough or not tough enough?
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Let me see if I have the facts right. This is about the 8th year of drought in the last 10 years, we are being asked to cut back on water consumption, zillion dollar developments all get approved such as the St Regis, Montage, etc, we were told that the Rockport pipeline would not allow extra growth, but we were told today without the Rockport pipeline all development would stop. Sounds like Dana Williams and his uber-development boosters are at it again.
Much of Mexico is hot and dry.
Park City's economy has come to require the labor of a large number of illegal Mexican immigrants.
Now, Park City is hot and dry.
Coincidence?
I don't think so!
As long as you have the kind of multi billion dollar development that PC has grown to now have you will have problems keeping the infrastructure up to speed.
The sad thing is if you had a real fire that crossed one of the ski areas you are surround you probably couldnt stop it.
The unabashed bid for more water is on Park City once again you have the choice of continuing the growth or stopping it (last time was when the City sold everyone on reducing the arsenic level of the mine water when they actually upsiszed their treatment capacity by 3 fold.
When it comes to water and the city admin "watch your back jack".
A moritorium on growth accomplishes two things...
1. The price of a house go up.
2. Water usage goes down.
Both are badly needed.
Here in the West, where water is scarce, a legal system of waater rights has evolved -- so-called "paper water." The key to that system was always that the first users had the senior rights and, therefore, priority in times of drought. Park City and Summit County have acquired water rights that are held in trust for the residents. Residents should have -- but do not have -- the same seniority system.
It is a breach of that trust to continue to add users if there is any doubt. But Promontory gets water for its golf course while lawns burn up because the county commissioners sold out. Around here, if you can't afford to bribe a politician, you're a second-class citizen.
The above comments tend to share one element: corruption of our local politicians. It is true! The worst is the City Manager. Under his "leadership" this culture of corruption flourishes. Shame on the entire city government, shame on Dana the Developer. And damn it, throw Bakaly in jail. Join the list: Citizens Really Against Irresponsible Growth! CRAIG's list.
30 years ago we were fearing another ice age.
The City of Francis has a building moratoreum. Park City should do the same. Also, the 84098 unincorporated zip code needs to incorporate so that it can take control of their own destiny and do the same.
One cannot question that 2007 is turning out to be a rough water year. However, the issues that are facing Park City and Summit County are water management issues, not drought issues. Both Park City and Summit County have elected to ignore water supply and quality issues and forge ahead with development plans without taking the appropriate steps to secure the necessary water to service those developments. As a result of their respective failures, current residents are required to cut back on water usage and comply with "drought" restrictions.
As a result the restrictions are both too tough and not tough enough. They are too tough on the current resident (or at least the resident from five years ago) that is suffering restrictions on water use due to the poor decision making. On the other hand, the restrictions are not tough enough as they do not limit the approval of projects by Park City or Summit County when they are the provider of water service -- neither entity should be permitted to provide water to new development unless and until they resolve their water supply and quality issues.
To that extent, the poster that raised the issue of political corruption at play has a point -- why do the local politicians repeatedly approve certain projects when there is no water to serve them? What is the motivation: money, political support, promises of future business, something else, but not the welfare of the current residents.
The corruption is deeper than just the politicians. I would blame the Park Record as well. They run fluffy glowing front page stories about the "green" Montage resort and all the other oxymoronic awards that developers give themselves. Ever notice where the Park Record makes its money? Real Estate developer advertizers. Also, I really have to hold Dana Williams to task on all of this. He holds himself out as being a greenie and spends a huge amount of time and money worrying about carbon footprints, wind power and walkability studies at the same time presiding over the city at a time when:
- The city built a $10MM concrte parking structure to house more cars and cause more traffic
- The city expanded its boundaries to accommodate the Quinn's Recreation center with all of its mega-lighting that could be seen from Mars and also requires huge amount of additional watering for the fields and a huge amount of electricty to make ice.
- The city used its open space bond funds to purchase vacant lots in the town's urban center.
- The city approved a long list of developments that the town can't handle including the Montage, St Regis, Silver Strike, etc.
Basically, the citizens need to use the next election to throw Dana Williams and all the other bums out. It's time for the residents to stand up and take control of their own town.
I would add KPCW to both the Park Record and our local politicians as being intractably corrupt. When you get an office for free from the City, it seriously impedes your ability to offer objective criticism of the City government. They also get their advertising dollars (I mean PSA money) from realtors. So much for being non-profit. Non-Mormon, non-prophet?
I'LL CUT BACK WHEN THE BIG GUYS DO THE SAME. CALL IT A STAGE 1 DROUGHT AND BE CAREFUL WITH FIREWORKS, WHO ARE THEY KIDDING, I KNOW ON THE 4TH THE SIGN SAID BE CAREFUL WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN CHANGED BUT WHY IS EVERY LARGE PROJECT APPROVED AND THE LITTLE PARK CITY HOMEOWNER IS ALWAYS ASKED TO CUTBACK
Terri Orr is in a drought. Her columns have become boring and tiresome.......Tired of hearing about her grandkids. Time to change the subject or the columnist.
Should we be inviting thousands of toilet flushers, and shower users, (Sundance, Arts Fest, etc...) to vacation and visit our fair city without first making them aware Park City is dangerously low on water? Seems fairly irresponsible to me, if we don't...but then, I'm just a "slow drip."
Property Managers could help, so could hotels, by posting drought information, or better yet, speaking seriously about it with the visitor upon arrival. In my opinion, the Red Carpet should be rolled up until we get a handle on our water issues. Thanks.
...Park City is now part of the dream... "Dry State."
UTAH IN A DROUGHT...
EARF GETTING HOTTER...
MARS GETTING HOTTER...
VENUS GETTING HOTTER...
PLUTO GETTING HOTTER...
CONNECT THE DOTS...
FREAKIN' GLOBAL WARMING !!!!
FREAKIN' SUVs !!!!
"Freakin Al Gore.......What a freakin loon!
Be careful what you say or the park record will pull the plug on this blog like they did on the school district debate cowards it gt to heavy for them
Hello a drought no kidding keep approving all the garbage condos in town and out at the junction. We had a water shortage 10 years ago, we added redstone and all the crap at the old kmart, throw in all the crap condos and yup more stuff than we can handle...Hello is anyone out there McFly????????
Keep building all the cheap housing and your going to get more criminals in town sucking up the water supply. It going to take a major shooting in this town for park city to wake up and say yea yea they work for the cheap jobs but they are raising little gang bangers
Sue them all thats what I say!!!!!!!!!
I am amazed that this thread is hijacked by discussion of development approvals and immigration. The fact is that the primary source of water shortages is the City of Park City. The city has failed to secure water supplies, then steals water that should flow down East Canyon Creek. The City has failed to secure water resources, yet continues to approve developments, both large and small and fancy and plain (one should really question where the Talisker project is going to obtain water). Park City must take the steps necessary to stop the stealing of water and to require any new development to secure its water supply. If Park City ever acknowledges the true water situation and takes steps to cure (which cure is easily available), then the water shortages shall not be an every year occurrence and residents won't suffer the restrictions now in place.
The problem is they keep approving garabe housing, stores we do not want, and condos for the 3 week a year rich people. Yeah itis about development and immigration we need neither of it
For 18 years we've been hearing about the lack of water in Park City. What have the city fathers done to curb this problem..ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
This town is run by developers, and realestate agents..So keep on building Park City, and when a flash fire comes through Old Town there won't be enough water to stop the flames...
mayor is a crooked realtor with a smooth tongue. whaddaya expect? city manager is a blatant criminal. they're in it together. there goes all the water. big money always wins. water is for talisker and all the rest of the rich weasels not from here. locals don't need water, they don't pay tom & dana. bribery: it's not just a job, it's a crime.
UNBELIEVABLE! What a STUPID question...my 5 year old can answer it. More developments+more people=more water usage. DUH!!
City council just can't say NO to ANYONE! $$$$$$$$$$$$ This place is fast becoming undesireable to live in....too much traffic, too many rich people, too many construction projects, and nowhere to live. Good luck ski resorts, it will only get harder to find us little minions.
I'm not sure how other water companies in the area work but Mountain Regional does not seem to do much to promote conservation. I pay $55 a month for 5,000 gallons whether I used them or not. That's kind of dumb. Some people will get pissed that they paid for 5,000 but only used 3,000 so next month they'll be sure to take extra long showers just to get their money's worth.
Also, when the irrigation systems in Heber valley stop running 24/7 then I'll be pretty worried that we're running out of water.
Global warming is a crock of shit and Al Gore is the king of the bullshit artists
I agree "global warming" is a bunch of crap, just like Y2K was. No, we that live in 84098 do not want to be apart of Park City. You keep your problems to yourselves.
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