Welcome to the
Utah Lake Commission!
 Welcome to our website! We feel that Utah Lake is one of Utah's great natural treasures.
The Utah Lake Commission was formed to promote beneficial utilization of the natural resources of the lake. It will also help fulfill the obligations and responsibility that government has to manage the lake in keeping with the Public Trust Doctrine.
The Commission hopes to facilitate orderly planning and development in and around the lake while protecting the individual jurisdiction's ability to govern its own area. Finally, it will assist in the formulation and implementation of comprehensive plans for management of Utah Lake and its shoreline.
The Utah Lake Festival
The Commission co-sponsored the 6th annual Utah Lake Festival on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at the Utah Lake State Park. There were lots of fun, free activities for families, and a great chance to get out and experience the lake. If you weren't able to join us this year, we hope to see you next year!
COMPETING PROPOSALS TO LEASE SOVEREIGN LAND
Two competing proposals have been submitted to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands (FFSL) to lease both shoreline and lakebed of Utah Lake. One proposal is for a bridge that crosses Utah Lake. The proposed termination points of the bridge are just north of Pelican Point in Saratoga Springs and in Vineyard, lining up with the 800 North I-15 interchange in Orem. The other is to preserve the area in its natural state.
FFSL has requested that the Utah Lake Commission assist them in reviewing these proposals to determine which, if either, should be allowed. The Utah Lake Commission is neither an opponent nor a proponent of either project at this time. It is working with FFSL to review the information that was received from the applicants and during the public process to weigh the numerous issues that were communicated. It is anticipated that the Commission will take an official stance and make a recommendation to FFSL sometime in the future.
A website has been set up by FFSL that gives a brief description of the proposed bridge and where the public can review the comments that were submitted during the public comment period, which ended on November 30, 2009. This link will take you to that website. A similar public process is being planned to receive public comment on the alternate proposal. More details will be posted when they are available.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: A public hearing about the proposed bridge was held by the Utah Lake Commission on Thursday, October 29, 2009. Close to 200 people attended and 30 comments were presented to the Commission's Governing Board. At the end of the hearing, the Governing Board expressed its sincere appreciation to those who came and offered their position on the proposal. Minutes of that meeting, including the comments given by the public can be found at this link. A request was made for the presentations given at the hearing. This link will open a .pdf document of the presentation given at the public hearing. The bridge proponents preferred to not provide their presentation.
FFSL also held an open house on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 in Saratoga Springs. It was attended by close to 50 people and much discussion and several comments were offered.
Lake Elevation
To view the elevation of Utah Lake, click on this link and select Utah Lake.
The Utah Lake Commission and the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands has recently completed the Utah Lake Master Plan. The plan creates both a vision and management plan for Utah Lake that will guide the Utah Lake Commission and its member agencies in future decisions affecting the lake.
A signing ceremony adopting the document was held on Friday, June 26, 2009 at the Utah Lake State Park. Senator Bob Bennett was in attendance and expressed his support of our efforts. Members of the Utah Lake Commission Governing Board were also in attendance. There was also considerable coverage from the news media.
The plan can be accessed by clicking on the "Master Plan Document" link at the right.
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