Utah County and several of its cities are in the final stages of establishing the Utah Lake Commission.

The agreement for the commission will be official when the state Legislature, which is in session now, approves it.

Lehi, American Fork and Lindon have already signed the agreement which, once finalized, officials say will help maintain the best use of Utah Lake. Pleasant Grove and Saratoga Springs are discussing it.

"It's a very, very good thing," Lehi Mayor Howard Johnson said. "It's something that almost every area with a large lake has run into," citing Bear Lake as an example.

Mayor Lewis Billings of Provo, chairman of the Utah Lake Study Committee, a group which has been meeting since 2004, sent a letter to several Utah County mayors last month about the proposed commission, inviting participation.

He said lake preservation is important.

"Utah Lake is truly a remarkable and important natural asset," he wrote. "As pressure for growth and development continue to mount and to impact almost all that surrounds us, we will have no choice but to act and to act effectively if we are to continue to enjoy the beauty and wonderful quality of life we have become accustomed to. This is a task larger than any one of us individually. By working together we can make a real difference for Utah Valley residents today and in the future."

Saratoga Springs Mayor Tim Parker, when presenting the agreement to his city council on Jan. 30, said the informal group has already been useful to its representative communities. When the group finished its lake study, it resulted in the federally funded June sucker recovery program planning to net 85-95 percent of the lake's carp.

Parker said he foresees the proposed commission being an arena for discussion and planning on topics such as gaining access to more marinas, preserving the wetlands and establishing a trail system along the lake.

"The principal purpose of the commission is to put together a master plan that we hope the entities will agree to and incorporate in their master plan," he said.

Lindon Mayor Jeff Acerson, a supporter of the agreement, said the commission would be a cooperative one rather than dictatorial, and would help to support the public interest in Utah Lake.

"The intent of the group would be to inform the public about the activities of Utah Lake and keep the usage of the area consistent with what is best for the public," Acerson said. "In Lindon, as more development comes there is the risk of a private developers to cut off public access to the lake, and the Utah Lake Commission would help in a situation like that."

Members of the study group have already agreed to a formula to share costs for the commission. It is based on a formula that calculates the costs based on three factors -- the city's population, its lake shoreline miles and its land area.

The proposed startup cost for the commission is approximately $300,000. While actual costs could vary depending on whether individual cities choose to participate , the initial amount American Fork would have to pay is $8,416.65 for the first year, Lehi's share could be $11,250.85; Lindon, $4,327.30; and Saratoga Springs, $11,933.70.

"The commission has the potential for doing something really good," said Ott Dameron, Lindon city administrator. "It has been in discussion for nearly 30 years, and would have the best opportunity for success."

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.