OPINION — I was very disappointed to read the recent letter to the editor of St. George News submitted by my state Rep. Lowry Snow. He has finally taken a stand on an important issue facing our community.

Unfortunately it is not a position which is in our best interests. Mr. Snow has sided with most other politicians (I cannot bring myself to call them leaders), developers and water managers to promote the Lake Powell Pipeline. I have to wonder what drives his thinking. Is he pressured to agree with political cronies? Does the population not adequately support his law practice? Is he getting money under the table for condoning this insane project?

Mr. Snow has inducted himself into a group of greedy and narrow-minded people which make up the “Growth, Grass and Tourism Machine” (GGTM).

Their projects have already devastated our quality of life in Washington County. Traffic, accidents and crime have skyrocketed. Once pristine treasures, such as Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Kanarraville Falls, are no longer enjoyable to local residents, being overrun with millions of visitors. Events such as Parade of Homes, Iron Man and St. George Marathon are so frequent and cause so many road closures and increased traffic that locals are compelled to leave the area or stay home for hours at a time.

It is sad that only the people get it. Members of the GGTM just cannot. They are stubborn and woefully blinded by greed and do not care that our area will become void of open spaces and polluted like LA. Many officials use their positions to promote their personal or family business interests which belies the term public servant.

Ron Thompson of the Washington County Water Conservancy District has never provided an accurate price tag for Lake Powell Pipeline project. He does not have to be honest or exemplary in his tactics. He is not an elected official and does not directly answer to anyone – and his conduct shows it. He has spent millions in public money in effort to support this ludicrous project!

Advocates of the pipeline ignore mountains of evidence demonstrating how reckless the project is.

The Utah Rivers Council conducted an exhaustive study which plainly shows it is not financially feasible. Washington County residents will be saddled with high water rates and enormous debt.

Western Resource Advocates clearly demonstrates how the Utah State Division of Water Resources data projections are seriously flawed. Mr. Snow and the GGTM do not understand (or do they?) this data is deliberately misleading.

The water distric would have us believe we are doing very well in water conservation. Not so! The Western Resource Advocates report points out that Washington County conserves water at about half the rate of other western cities.

Utah officials are determined to grab all the state is entitled to from the Colorado River. Just because The Great Basin Water Compact indicates we have a right to the water, does not mean it is there! They are determined to claim this mirage, even if it leaves Arizona, Nevada and California shortchanged. American Rivers reports the Colorado River as the most endangered river in the nation.

It is sad that this beautiful river is so over-tapped that it never reaches the ocean.

I encourage all concerned citizens to research these and other irrefutable facts and get involved. Make your voice heard. Run for public office. Let us work together to prevent Washington County from being the kind of place we moved here to get away from.

To some extent, it is already too late. So much damage has already been done.

Submitted by GARY ALLRED, Santa Clara

Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.

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Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.