Saturday, September 24th, members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Provo community rallied together to study the history of Provo River and Utah Lake, and engage in the effort to remove harmful waste from the water and its surrounding riverbed. Through this action we not only raised awareness of the history of the Timpanogos water system, we were also able to connect more deeply with our environment in order to make a direct change.
The struggle to preserve the Provo River and Utah Lake is alive and well. Last year, the Utah legislature passed H.B. 240, giving control of any dredging of Utah Lake to the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. The Division ruled the proposed dredging and paving of Utah Lake unconstitutional; a major victory for those working to preserve and protect the lake and its diverse ecosystem.
Despite this, the work is not over. Developers aim to convert the lake into unaffordable housing for the sake of profit, and the ongoing reinvention of their plans threatens to irreparably damage the lake. We must unite and continue fighting for the health of the lake and the river and lake, as this precious water is crucial for the sustainability of life in Utah County and its surrounding area.
Under a people-centered socialist system, teams of trained, environmentally-conscious workers might be deployed to clean the rivers of the waste toxic to life in our valley. These teams, paired with a comprehensive plan for preventing further pollution, would ameliorate the health of our water, and forward the desperately needed process of lake restoration and environmental justice.
Members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Provo vow to continue investing our labor and dedication to this important cause. We invite any members of the community interested in getting involved to reach out to us. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @pslprovo, or sign up online at pslweb.org/join to join us in the struggle.
—Jacob Sparks
South Provo Prophet 