State Water Strategy open for comment
The newly released Recommended State Water Strategy is open for public comment through June 26 before it goes to the governor’s desk.
Good water year spells challenges, fun for reservoir managers
Deseret News – While the lower- and mid-elevation snow has melted, the high mountain snowpack has yet to come down — and everyone is holding their breath that it behaves and melts in an orderly fashion.
Utah Lake Summit highlights
A crowd of 250 gathered at the Utah Valley Convention Center for a one-day summit to better understand the nature of Utah Lake. See a summary and presentation files here.
Northern Utah dams in ‘flood control’ mode to take on snowmelt
Deseret News – Managers of water systems are engaged in a juggling act to release enough water to make room for snowmelt but not too much so downstream communities don’t flood.
Utah Lake’s water quality not significantly different from the past
Deseret News – Let’s embrace Utah Lake as a fantastic basin-bottom lake that, admittedly, has some characteristics that some people don’t like. However, to try to change it into something that it cannot become will only result in frustration, even dismay, when it fails.
Fantastic February piles on snow for Utah
Deseret News – Most of Utah’s reservoirs will fill this summer thanks to the hefty snowfall stored in the state’s mountains. The latest report issued by the NRCS said precipitation for February was at 156% of average, helping levels at reservoirs increase by 6% in just a month’s time.
Lawmakers issue ‘call to arms’ to help struggling Utah Lake
Deseret News – A legislative committee unanimously endorsed a resolution calling for increased emphasis on solving the many challenges facing Utah Lake.
America’s aging dams are in need of repair
New York Times – Dam crises and failures in California and Nevada shed light on the state of American infrastructure.
Four barriers to water reuse
Even after significant water conservation, global water sustainability will require that water be used more than once. The many barriers that hinder water reuse fall into four general categories, but they can be overcome.
Drought in the Colorado River Basin: Insights using open data
Since 2000, a prolonged drought in the Colorado River Basin has impacted regional water supply, hydropower, recreation, and ecosystems. This application by the U.S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Reclamation uses open data to explore the 16-year drought and its effects.
DEQ releases 2016 annual report
DEQ – The online “2016 State of the Environment Report” highlights the progress of the agencies that regulate Utah’s air, land, and water.
Utah closes 2016 with above-average precipitation
Deseret News – Utah plowed into the beginning of the year with a stellar supply of snow in the mountains, brought on by December precipitation that left most regions of the state teeming with fresh powder.
Map: U.S. water use over time
A new interactive visualization by the U.S. Geological Survey shows freshwater withdrawals by state from 1950 to 2010.
Video: Great Salt Lake causeway breach
The deliberate breach of the railroad causeway on Dec. 1, 2016, reconnected the lake’s north and south arms. Water levels are now equalizing.
State money available for secondary water meters
Deseret News – The state’s water resources board approved a program to award up to $3 million a year to water providers that want to install meters on secondary systems. In systems that have moved to meters, water savings have proved significant.
