It can be said that the modern history of Utah began with water — and a bet.
The year was 1824, and Jim Bridger was sitting around with his fellow mountain men in Cache Valley, on the banks of the Bear River, laying bets over where the water flowed. To settle the bet, Bridger followed the river down and found a giant, briny inland sea.
Ever since, water has shaped the contours of Utah’s history and development. Utah is one of the driest states and one of the fastest-growing states. Getting water management right is therefore the key to Utah’s destiny. And how we pay for water is central to water management.
During the last several weeks, Utah Foundation has released its four-part “Paying for Water Series.” The series addresses the ongoing debate over the role of property taxes in water revenues. While most of Utah’s 300-plus water providers rely solely on water rates, a number of the largest providers also rely on property taxes, meaning that most of the state’s population lives in a place where water taxes are collected.
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