Watershed Symposium 2024

This presentation will feature how engineers can help shape a more resilient future leveraging new perspectives and technologies.  Topics include watershed vulnerability assessments, innovative filtration media for stormwater quality treatment, aquifer storage and recovery, and how to leverage socio-economic census data in project prioritization.

Full Abstract:
Water scarcity, water quality impairments, aging infrastructure, a changing climate and the vulnerable populations that will experience all these challenges weigh heavily on the minds of environmental decision-makers these days.  It can be overwhelming to know where to start to help make our watersheds resilient. Fortunately, engineers and scientists have some powerful tools in their resiliency toolbox! This presentation will cover examples of how engineers can help shape a more resilient future,  covering how to leverage new information to help plan and prioritize, new technologies that create better resiliency opportunities, and some new ways of looking at old practices that still stand the test of time. The topics in this presentation will be a “sampler pack” of resiliency tools, including watershed vulnerability assessments for project prioritization, innovative filtration media for stormwater quality treatment, and aquifer storage and recovery.  In addition to providing project examples from Utah and elsewhere in the United States, this presentation will outline ways that today’s practitioners are using census data to incorporate socio-economic considerations into decisions about what to implement first, and where.

The H2Oquirrh Vision Plan harnesses attention on the Oquirrh range’s washes and creeks and channels it into impactful improvements that have both environmental and community benefits. This talk will present the final version of the study, focusing on the vision, goals, and strategies that will steer the implementation of the plan.

Full Abstract:
There is heightened attention on water in the Great Salt Lake Basin, with dwindling water resources and a shrinking lake making national news. Drought has caused intermittent streams to have longer dry periods and changes in stormwater runoff have exacerbated issues with water quality and flooding. During this session, we will share the vision, goals, and recommendations developed for H2Oquirrh, a comprehensive vision plan for the waterways of Southwest Salt Lake County and the Oquirrh Mountain Range. The H2Oquirrh Vision Plan is an opportunity to harness attention on critical natural resources and channel it into impactful improvements that have both environmental and community benefits. It is one of the first plans to facilitate collaboration across jurisdictions with the goal of preserving open space, supporting natural hydrology, and connecting people to the outdoors in creative ways. The creeks and washes in the Southwest portion of the Salt Lake Valley, including Bingham, Rose, Midas, Butterfield, and Barney’s, Juniper, Wood Hollow, and Beef Hollow, have received less attention than the creeks flowing out of the Wasatch Range. Originating in the Oquirrh foothills, these waterways are significant environmental and natural systems that provide community benefits. Bringing attention to these creeks through the H2Oquirrh Vision Plan presents an exciting opportunity to build community-led solutions and explore new ways of supporting the interface between cities and their waterways. Over the last year, the project team has pulled topical expert feedback, community inputs, and design and engineering strategies to create a vision plan with a holistic regional approach. The plan identifies environmental, economic, and social goals to guide cities as they plan for future open space and development surrounding the waterways, as well as targeted strategies and actions that can steer implementation of the plan in the next five years. Small steps and grand visions work together to create this vision, with ideas ranging from aquifer recharge and native vegetation enhancement to low impact development (LID) and trail systems to benefit the entire downstream watershed. This talk will present the final version of the study, focusing on the vision, goals, and strategies that will steer the implementation of the plan. The multi-disciplinary presenters will provide a variety of perspectives on what went into the making of this plan.

The poster session is a forum for presenters to highlight programs and to share successful ideas with colleagues by presenting a research study, a practical problem-solving effort, an innovative program, and more.

Posters are listed alphabetically by title. ==> See Full Abstracts

Establishing a Functional Flows Framework for the Great Salt Lake Basin
Farah Nusrat, Utah State University
Functional flows are components of flow regimes that sustain river, wetland, and the Great Salt Lake (GSL) ecosystems, including hydrological, ecological, geomorphic, and biogeochemical processes. Natural resource managers can utilize this framework to design strategies for increasing resilience of GSL Basin waterbodies to climate change.

Great Salt Lake Playa Dust Suppression via Artificial Surface Crusting
Zachary Claerhout, University of Utah / Department of Atmospheric Sciences
Kevin Perry, Department of Atmospheric Sciences / University of Utah
Dust from the exposed portions of the Great Salt Lake (GSL) lakebed poses a potential health risk that may need to be mitigated if the lake level remains low. This study investigates the efficacy of artificial surface crusting via surface soil saturation as a potential dust suppression mechanism on the GSL playa.

Novel Rapid Lead and Copper Detection Method in Drinking Water
Nick Halverson, e-sens
This abstract presents new viable alternative lead and copper methods for reliable and portable testing applications that would allow much greater access for water and wastewater testers.

Rio Tinto Reduce Reclaim Remediate
Kiani Ellingson, Rio Tinto
Julie LeFevre, Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto Kennecott is committed to environmental water stewardship. From the metering and measuring of everyday water use, the preservation of the Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve, and our donation of water to the Great Salt Lake, these efforts benefit Utah, the community where we operate.