| PRESENTATION INFO |
| TITLE: |
Logan Canal Landslide: Water Infrastructure Challenges in the Urbanizing West |
| TYPE: |
Presentation |
| Abstract: |
Logan, Utah, like many cities in the western United States, is undergoing rapid population growth. It is expected that continuing growth will necessitate new water management strategies to encourage conservation and efficiency. Irrigation canals are an important part of the water infrastructure that delivers water to cities and farms throughout the valley. Many of these canals were built in the 1860s and are in need of repairs and upgrades to equip them to accomodate urban demands. In July 2009, a landslide destroyed a hillside irrigation canal and three people died as a result. Federal funding was provided to reconstruct the canal, and the window of opportunity to implement upgrades and repairs opened. This presentation will highlight the changes in planning goals and water management approaches that are necessitated by the rural-to-urban shift in Logan, Utah. These changes have been traced through analysis of public discourse and policy. We conclude that planners in Logan do indeed have long-term goals and planning strategies to meet future demands, but lack the capital to implement these measures right away. In addition, this case study highlights the importance of the socio-political climate in generating support for implementing large-scale improvements to water infrastructure.
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