North Campus Drive closed for weeks

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    By CARRIE LYNN ROWE

    Construction crews closed the right lane of northbound and westbound North Campus Drive Friday, Jan. 9, and it will remain closed for two to four weeks.

    During this period, Central Utah Project contractors will reroute and enclose the canal that runs through Heritage Halls and along Campus Drive. The piping will save 32 percent of the canal’s water, which is currently being lost to seepage.

    “We are under a mandate, especially along the Wasatch Front, to use our water effectively,” said Roy Peterman, director of grounds at BYU. “This is a very, very good choice with which to do that.”

    Peterman said the saved water will be used to irrigate campus so that culinary water does not have to be used to keep the expensive landscape alive. It will also be used for city parks, the Riverside Country Club, the state hospital and several other medium-sized land pieces.

    “This will give a net gain of significant help to the residents that fall under the jurisdiction of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District,” Peterman said.

    Paul Reese, civil engineer with BYU’s Planning Department, said preliminary research showed about 3 cubic feet per second of the canal’s water would be conserved through the piping.

    Though a fixture of BYU campus, the easement the canal runs through is actually owned by the Upper East Union Irrigation Company from 900 East, through Heritage Halls and along Campus Drive past the bell tower.

    The decision to pipe the canal was made February 2002 after drought struggles prompted its consideration. The canal, originally formed in the 1800s, was developed to water the fields that now hold BYU. Due to the extensive water loss, the state considered confiscating the water because it was not being used for agricultural purposes.

    “We are actually in rather eminent danger of having the state engineer come in and say, ‘Well, you really aren’t using this water for anything. … We’re gonna take this water and ship it off to South Jordan, who has no water, through the Murdock Canal,'” Peterman said.

    Though the water shortage is not quite as apparent in Provo, it is very apparent is many surrounding areas, and to lose this water would be a very bad situation, Peterman said.

    BYU will also be installing a new storm drain to provide other channels for water that formerly flowed into the canal. The existing water will also be more usable, because it can be filtered and pressurized.

    Despite these benefits, many students are concerned that the canal ducks will lose their campus home.

    Reese said several new landscape designs for the area are being considered, but he is not yet sure if they will include a water feature for the ducks.

    “There is a botanical gardens pond on 800 North, and hopefully the ducks will go there,” Reese said.

    Peterman said the plans would preserve the nature in the area, but that the ducks have plenty of places in the area to go.

    “They move from the river, to the canal, to the botany pond, to the lake. … It really isn’t too much of an issue for the ducks themselves,” said Peterman, while acknowledging they add to the atmosphere and peace of the campus.

    Greg Barber, a University Police Officer, said he expects the construction will cause some morning traffic congestion, but nothing of great concern. Pedestrian crossing will continue through this period.

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