Caleb Warnock

Utah Valley residents are being asked to help plan the future of Utah Lake.

The Utah Lake Commission, which is a new government agency tasked with looking after all things Utah Lake, is beginning the process of creating a master plan for the largest natural freshwater body in the West and wants community input on what that plan should be.

Residents can comment on everything from a proposed Utah Lake causeway, to hunting, lake access, water quality, services they would like to see added, beaches that should be developed, areas that should be left untouched, lakeside trail systems and more, said Reed Price, commission director.

Planning will include land roughly a quarter-mile inland around the lake.

"The purpose is to create a vision and management plan for Utah Lake to guide us as a commission and agency members as we make decisions in the future," he said.

The commission recognizes that there will be many opinions about the lake's future and they will not all mesh, he said.

"We have already received several comments ranging from, 'Don't do anything' to, 'Create marinas all around the lake,' " he said. "We hope to blend that and create areas that are not touched and others for access and development."

Cindy Gubler, a spokeswoman for the project, said many residents may be unaware that a new organization has been created to plot the lake's future.

Public comment "is very important," she said. "This is their big chance. This is the first step, and this will sort of kick it all off. The lake is a huge resource to the community, and I think this is a great project for the community to be doing."

Zoning maps and plans by cities surrounding the lake will be on display to show residents what exists now, as a starting point to planning, Price said. The plan will consider six elements: land use, natural resources conservation and management, public services and capital facilities, transportation, shoreline protection and recreation.

Following public meetings this week, the commission will spend time evaluating public comment and developing a master plan, which is expected to be presented to the public at a meeting in July. A draft of a final plan will be presented in the fall for public comment.

The Utah Lake Commission is made up of local government officials and state agency leaders. The Utah Lake master planning project is called Awake Utah Lake: Planning for the Heart of Utah Valley.

Public open houses will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Lehi Senior Citizen's Center, 123 N. Center St. in Lehi; and on Thursday at the Utah Lake State Park Visitors Center, 4400 W. Center St. in Provo.

For information about Awake Utah Lake or the Utah Lake Commission, visit UtahLakeCommission.org.