Provo Correspondent

PROVO -- Lillian Hayes isn't easily dissuaded.

For more than 25 years she's been a community watchdog, or more accurately, bulldog. She grabs onto something and doesn't let go until she gets a logical answer.

Hayes was recently given the Excellence in Environmental Activism award at Utah Valley State College's 14th Annual Environmental Ethics Conference.

People like Hayes worked on environmental issues before there were many laws in place to safeguard the public.

"Before there was a Clean Air Act there was Lillian Hayes," said Sam Rushforth, a fellow activist and dean at UVSC, naming off other important environmental legislation. For Hayes, who is now in her 80s there's a lot more work to do.

"I just regret I couldn't have done more," she said.

Hayes' approach is straightforward and dogged. One of the most "persistent and pugnacious" environmental activists he's ever known is how Rushforth describes her. She fought against a four-lane highway in Provo Canyon years ago.

Keith Hayes, Lillian's husband, is a retired geologist. "I consulted with my in-house geologic friend," Lillian said. The Hayeses learned the road would be built on Wick's Landslide area that rests on slippery Manning Canyon shale. Disturbing the landslide could cause slippage damming the river and jeopardizing Provo's water supply. It was to be built right on top of the city's springs.

Hayes wanted the Utah Department of Transportation to consider other alternatives. The project was advertised as improving the existing road yet the plans were for four new lanes with new alignment. In the end, the road was shifted from the springs and built on more stable ground.

From a family of attorneys, Hayes seems to have inherited the ability to present a case.

Hayes said she regrets the highway resulted in losing Rotary Park. "I think that the Rotary Park was probably the very loveliest park. ... It had a swinging bridge, we all took our children there. ... It was a wonderful escape from the hot city. ... People of our generation appreciated this; ... those who came later really missed out."

More recently Hayes has protested expansions at the Provo Airport and said she favors a county airport located in the fields of Spanish Fork. An avid bird watcher and nature lover, Hayes said she knew the mitigation wetlands wouldn't be a sufficient substitute for migrating waterfowl.

Hayes recently bought her first computer and fax machine and has quickly incorporated modern technology into her life-long battles to save the environment.

But Hayes said what she needs most is "help from you."

"We need more watchdogs."

Janet Knudson can be contacted by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it