Environmental group Utah Valley Earth Forum submits no-build proposal for Utah Lake bridge

PROVO (Deseret News) — An environmental group has a plan for Utah Lake, and it doesn't include a bridge.

The Utah Valley Earth Forum recently submitted to state officials a no-build option to counter a developer's proposal to construct a bridge across Utah Lake.

Jim Westwater, chairman of the environmental group, submitted the proposal to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands prior to the March 31 deadline.

"Our mission is to help promote good stewardship for a healthy environment," Westwater said. "(The proposed bridge over Utah Lake) is a very pronounced example of poor stewardship that will harm the environment, in our view."

Although Westwater said some might see the group's proposal as a plan to do nothing, he emphasized that is not the case.

"The point is not to do nothing," he said. "The point is to preserve and protect the lake in its natural state without a bridge for the enjoyment and benefit of all future generations."

The Utah Valley Earth Forum proposal counters a plan submitted by Utah Crossing Inc. that calls for a toll bridge to be built across Utah Lake to provide additional access to the west side of the lake.

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