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Utah Lake is pictured from Utah Lake State Park on Monday, April 25, 2022.

Ashtyn Asay, Daily Herald file photo

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Utah Lake is pictured from Utah Lake State Park on Monday, April 25, 2022.

Ashtyn Asay, Daily Herald file photo

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Utah Lake is pictured from Utah Lake State Park on Monday, April 25, 2022.

Ashtyn Asay, Daily Herald file photo

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After months and years of consideration, questioning and possibility, the man-made island proposal for Utah Lake is done.

On Thursday, the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands announced that it ended the proposed Utah Lake Restoration Project.

“Because the pending application considers disposal of land that would impede navigation and permanently transfer sovereign lands to private parties, violating the public trust that is constitutionally imposed on these lands, the division determined that cancellation of the pending application is appropriate and required,” the department wrote.

The proposal, by Lake Restoration Solutions, sought to create islands by dredging Utah Lake, deepening it by several feet, and using the newly constructed islands for development. The decision comes just months after Jamie Barnes, the director of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, read a report to the Utah Legislature saying the proposal was not legal.

Jon Benson, president and chief operating officer of Lake Restoration Solutions, said in a statement that the company was made aware of technical concerns in their initial application.

“We have been engaging with the Division to address the specific concerns shared. This record of decision gives us greater clarity on the path forward. We remain committed to our mission of helping to restore a healthy Utah Lake that could become an incredible recreation destination for all Utahns to enjoy while ensuring a future clean water supply and creating thousands of local jobs,” Benson said.

This brings to a close a yearslong saga including personal lawsuits, battling information and hundreds of hours of work by supporters and opponents. The announcement drew attention from leaders and activists throughout Utah County, with opponents celebrating the decision.

“We’re very encouraged by the statement by (Forestry, Fire and State Lands). This is a long time coming; they made the right decision,” said Adam Johnson, assistant executive director of Conserve Utah Valley. “Today will be a turning point where we can now focus on more restoration.”

Ben Abbott, assistant professor of plant and wildlife sciences at Brigham Young University and a fierce critic of the proposal, said he’s optimistic about what the cancellation means for the future of Utah lake.

“For many years now, this proposal has cast a long shadow over legitimate Utah Lake restoration efforts,” Abbott said. “The official rejection of this proposal, I think, can open the door to a new phase in Utah Lake restoration where we are focused on the science, what the community needs and on collaborative work.”

Moving forward, he encouraged residents to seek out information, attend future Utah Lake summits and take part in education efforts, specifically those by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District focused on school-aged children.

He also mentioned hope for the Utah Legislature to repeal the 2018 Utah Lake Amendments and Utah Lake Restoration Act.

“That’s going to close the door on risky and irresponsible projects like this,” he said.

In January, Abbott was sued by Lake Restoration Solutions, claiming defamation, false light and intentional interference with prospective economic relations. Abbot later filed an anti-SLAPP motion against LRS.

Moving forward, legislators — particularly those on the newly established Utah Lake Authority Board — will need to go back to the drawing board for restoration plans.

“Echoing what I mentioned at the Utah Lake panel earlier today at the Growth and Prosperity Summit, we are just one of the many entities that are a part of finding solutions for Utah Lake. I look forward to collaborating with all of those involved in finding real answers to how the lake, the gem of Utah Valley, can be preserved, enhanced and improved for all of the region’s wildlife, residents and visitors to enjoy,” said Vineyard Mayor Julie Fullmer, one of 15 members of the Utah Lake Authority Board.

Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner told the Daily Herald this cancellation will not have a significant impact in the short term, but that all of the major players will be reconvening and working on new solutions for Utah Lake.

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