Counsel
Clyde Snow Attorneys At Law
Bio:
Steve Clyde is one of Utah’s leading authorities on natural resources and water law, with decades of experience advising clients on complex water rights, public land, oil and gas, and mining matters. His practice focuses on water law, representing individuals, developers, special service districts, and public entities in the acquisition, sale, and conversion of water rights throughout Utah.
Mr. Clyde has played a pivotal role in some of the state’s most significant real estate and resort developments, particularly in Summit County. His work includes handling water rights acquisition and conversion for projects such as Jeremy Ranch, Glenwild Golf Resort, Park City Mountain Resort, Snowbasin Ski Resort, Brian Head Ski Resort, Powder Mountain, and other large-scale developments. He also served as general counsel to the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, sponsor of the Central Utah Project, where he advised on federal reclamation law, water policy, and hydroelectric power negotiations.
A seasoned advocate, Mr. Clyde has represented clients before the Utah State Engineer, litigated water rights appeals in state and federal courts, including the Utah Supreme Court, and advised on planning, zoning, and special district formation. Since 2007, he has served on the Utah Legislature’s Water Task Force and the Water Development Commission, helping shape revisions to Utah water law and contributing to legislative efforts to secure the future of Great Salt Lake.
Title: Water Rights for Great Salt Lake: Are We Any Closer to Achieving That Dream?
Abstract: I wrote a paper in 2016 titled Water for Great Salt Lake, is it the Impossible Dream, in which I suggested that by adopting statutory tools in use in other Western States, Utah might find ways to bring additional water to Great Salt Lake. Many of the ideas I presented, coupled with other approaches, were compiled into the Governor’s Water Strategy Report of 2017. Many of these suggestions have been put into law. Considerable funding has been appropriated to facilitate conservation in both urban and agricultural settings, including ways to deliver the saved water to Great Salt Lake. The question for today is: are we any closer to saving Great Salt Lake and can we do so before the 2034 Winter Olympic Games?
