Pres. Albrecht Welcomes Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert to Spring Runoff Conference

President Albrecht welcomed Utah Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert to campus March 27 as the featured speaker at USU’s Spring Runoff Conference. Herbert, who leads state efforts concerning homeland security, transportation, water and rural affairs, told conference participants that Utah’s limited water supply is the only factor limiting the state’s growth.

In contrast to Eastern states, Utah faces unique challenges, the lieutenant governor said.

 

“We live in a desert, we have the highest birth rate in the United States and we had record in-migration this past year,” he said. “Our population is currently 2.5 million and projected to increase to 5.4 million by 2050.”

 

Herbert said the new Bear River Project and the Lake Powell Pipeline Project will generate some of the water needed for growing Utah communities, but the balance must come from conservation.

 

“Gov. Huntsman has set a goal of reducing per capita water consumption in Utah 25 percent within the next 20 years,” he said.

 

Herbert praised Utah State University for its statewide efforts in educating Utahns about water-wise conservation practices.