Section 204 – Management plan.

• (1)
  • (a) The board shall prepare, adopt, and, subject to Subsection (1)(b), implement a management plan.
  • (b) The lake authority may not begin to implement a management plan until April 1, 2023.

• (2) In preparing a management plan, the board shall:
  • (a) consult with and seek and consider input from the legislative or governing body of each adjacent political subdivision;
  • (b) work cooperatively with and receive input from the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands; and
  • (c) consider how the interests of adjacent political subdivisions would be affected by implementation of the management plan.

• (3) A management plan shall:
  • (a) describe in general terms the lake authority’s:
    • (i) vision and plan for achieving and implementing the policies and objectives stated in Section 11-65-203; and
    • (ii) overall plan for the management of Utah Lake, including an anticipated timetable and any anticipated phases of management;
  • (b) accommodate and advance, without sacrificing the policies and objectives stated in Section 11-65-203, the compatible interests of adjacent political subdivisions;
  • (c) describe in general terms how the lake authority anticipates cooperating with adjacent political subdivisions to pursue mutually beneficial goals in connection with the management of Utah Lake;
  • (d) identify the anticipated sources of revenue for implementing the management plan; and
  • (e) be consistent with management planning conducted by the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, to pursue the objectives of:
    • (i) improving the clarity and quality of the water in Utah Lake;
    • (ii) not interfering with water rights or with water storage or water supply functions of Utah Lake;
    • (iii) removing invasive plant and animal species, including phragmites and carp, from Utah Lake;
    • (iv) improving littoral zone and other plant communities in and around Utah Lake;
    • (v) improving and conserving native fish and other aquatic species in Utah Lake;
    • (vi) cooperating in the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program;
    • (vii) increasing the suitability of Utah Lake and Utah Lake’s surrounding areas for shore birds, waterfowl, and other avian species;
    • (viii) improving navigability of Utah Lake;
    • (ix) enhancing and ensuring recreational access to and opportunities on Utah Lake; and
    • (x) otherwise improving the use of Utah Lake for residents and visitors.

• (4) A management plan may not interfere with or impair:
  • (a) a water right;
  • (b) a water project; or
  • (c) the management of Utah Lake necessary for the use or operation of a water facility associated with Utah Lake.

• (5)
  • (a) Before adopting a management plan, the board shall:
    • (i) provide a copy of the proposed management plan to:
      • (A) the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources;
      • (B) the executive director of the Department of Environmental Quality;
      • (C) the state engineer; and
      • (D) each adjacent political subdivision; and
    • (ii) post a copy of the proposed management plan on the Utah Public Notice Website created in Section 63A-16-601.
  • (b) Comments or suggestions relating to the proposed management plan may be submitted to the board within the deadline established under Subsection (5)(c).
  • (c) The board shall establish a deadline for submitting comments or suggestions to the proposed management plan that is at least 30 days after the board provides a copy of the proposed management plan under Subsection (5)(a)(i).
  • (d) Before adopting a management plan, the board shall consider comments and suggestions that are submitted by the deadline established under Subsection (5)(c).

Enacted by Chapter 59, 2022 General Session