With the current plan, 18,000 acres of land will be created (which is ~20% of the lake’s surface area). Modeling suggests that this is the ideal surface area reduction needed for water conservation. Roughly half of the land created by the project will be public – for wildlife habitat areas, recreation, parks, trails, open space, and public access.
Estuaries of wildlife islands will be for habitat and wildlife use, and access may be restricted at critical times of year, such as brooding season.
Recreation islands will be open to the public for activities such as camping and hiking. Recreation islands are meant to be used and enjoyed by everyone, as well as for expanding wildlife habitat.
Community islands will have beautiful, sustainable eco-communities. Besides providing housing including affordable housing options where Utahns can raise their families, these community islands will also provide public benefit in the form of improved lake access, open space, beaches, parks, and trails. The vast majority of the new shoreline created will be open to the public.
As opposed to a taxpayer funded model, which would cost as much as $40,000 per Utah County household, the fiscally responsible model state leaders chose is a public-private partnership that requires no new taxes. The entire project will be master planned to ensure the lake is a place that can be used for recreation and sustainable living.