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Population Upsurge Ahead

Click to see original imageThe three counties (Utah. Wasatch and Summit) encompassed in the Mountainland Association of Governments face a tremendous challenge in preparing for unprecedented growth in the years ahead. This becomes especially evident in reading the “Planning for the future in Mountainland” supplement distributed as part of last Tuesday’s Herald, . Figures presented by Mountainland showed that between 1950 and 1970 the combined population of the three counties grew by about 58 per cent, reaching 149,518 by the ’70 census. Current projections indicate that during the next 20-year period, 1970 to 1990, population will nearly double. “By 1990 nearly 286,000 people will reside in the three counties, and by 1995 approximately 315,000 people will call Summit, Utah, and Wasatch Counties ‘home.”‘ says the report. As Mountainland Association of Governments officials see it, by far the biggest part of this growth will occur in the rapidly urbanizing portion of Utah Valley between Utah Lake and the Wasatch Mountains. Says the report: “There are now approximately 53,000 acres of land in the three counties which are developed for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional purposes. With the burgeoning population envisioned during the next 20 years, nearly 27.000 additional acres will have to be developed to accommodate the growth. Approximately 75 per cent of the additional land needed for development will be in Utah County.” With such growth on the way, this observation by Mountainland seems timely; “Of prime importance is the wise use and allocation of our resources, with particular emphasis on land, water, and transportation facilities.,” The statement went on to encourage the pubIic’s “increased awareness and interest in these management problems and welcomes public involvement with local government to assist citizens in understanding the complexities of resource management land to aid public officialls in making important decisions which will affect our future.”