Watershed Symposium 2024

Great Salt Lake is shrinking, yet cities along the Wasatch Front and in the lake's drainage basin continue to grow unabated. Both the lake and cities need water to prosper, setting up an existential crisis. Is it possible for the needs of the lake AND Utah's growing population to be met? The answer is YES, and this presentation will explore how.

Full Abstract:
In a world experiencing rapid population growth and limited water supplies, many cities have successfully eliminated the need to develop additional supplies as their population grows. This is known in academic circles as “decoupling” or breaking the traditional link between urban water demand and population growth. Successfully decoupling municipal and industrial (M&I) water demand from population growth has allowed these cities to continue to grow and prosper despite diminishing water availability and climate change stresses. In order for Utah to continue to grow and not cause further harm to the GSL and other aquatic ecosystems, Utah’s communities need to follow the proven decoupling model. This presentation will explore successful examples of decoupling in the Southwestern United States and assess how cities in Utah measure up and what needs to be done to ensure a bright future for all who rely on the state’s precious water resources.

Ever wondered how social media trends could enhance your watershed conservation or management efforts? This session is designed for natural resource professionals interested in harnessing the power of social media to boost their impact. We’ll explore how to create engaging content that converts followers into your biggest supporters.

Full Abstract:
It’s 2024, and everywhere we look there’s a new TikTok dance and Instagram trend and we’re left wondering – how does any of this relate to the important work we’re doing in our watershed? In a time where digital engagement shapes public perception and drives action, it’s more important than ever to have a strong brand identity online. Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate with volunteers, donors, stakeholders, and the public. Through social media, we have the opportunity to engage diverse audiences, raise awareness, and drive actionable change to conserve our watershed. This presentation explores the strategic approaches any individual, organization, or agency can take to leverage the power of social media to increase the awareness of your work in the watershed, build trust, and further your mission. This presentation also explores how “viral” content can help build up your community. We explore case studies from popular digital campaigns (including our own!) that have effectively led to real-world impacts in our watershed. We will look into the key elements that contribute to successful social planning, including compelling storytelling, visual appeal, and audience engagement strategies. This presentation will provide practical insights on creating content that resonates with our unique online audiences and sparks viral momentum. Attendees will learn about the importance of tracking digital analytics to tailor campaigns to best succeed, while addressing the challenges of social media – capacity, managing misinformation, addressing negative feedback, and maintaining brand authenticity. By diving into the current trends, we will illustrate how your teams can design and execute social media campaigns. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to enhance their social media presence, foster meaningful connection, and ultimately create a community that is more engaged on the resources and issues in our watershed.

Healthy ecosystems intrinsically reduce eutrophication, ameliorate pollution, sequester water and provide access to biodiversity with all of it's benefits. A binary outlook of what defines nature has limited restoration to untrammeled locations, a stark contrast to where such efforts will have the most benefits.

The speaker will make the case for the creation of a new industry to largely replace the landscaping industry: urban native restoration. in turn, the speaker will define the benefits restoration can provide in an urban setting, and some insight into how to affect this change.

Great Salt Lake Stormwater Study: Basin-Wide Analysis of Stormwater Flows, Low-Impact Development and Groundwater Contributions developed a water-balance model to explore the impacts of Low-Impact Development (LID) on the Great Salt Lake watershed.

Full Abstract:
This study, completed in 2023, entitled Great Salt Lake Stormwater Study: Basin-Wide Analysis of Stormwater Flows, Low-Impact Development and Groundwater Contributions developed a water-balance model to explore the impacts of Low-Impact Development (LID) on the Great Salt Lake watershed. LID refers to, “engineered systems, either structural or natural, that use or mimic natural processes to promote infiltration, evapo-transpiration, and/or reuse of storm water as close to its source as possible to protect water quality and aquatic habitat.” LID mimics the undeveloped water flows within a watershed which reduces the volume of runoff and the flows through conveyances thereby improving water quality of stormwater. The team performed an integrated water assessment, including quantification of the influence of low impact development practices associated with post-construction retention stormwater permit requirements on runoff to the Great Salt Lake. The project consisted of a literature review, data compilation, and methodology development and implementation that led to development and application of a SWMM model to estimate how future development with and without LID impacts surface water runoff and groundwater recharge in the context of the Great Salt Lake watershed. SWMM model results were used in MODFLOW groundwater models to elucidate both the surface and groundwater paths to Great Salt Lake. This talk will highlight the potential impacts of LID on the Great Salt Lake watershed including surface water and groundwater systems.

Learn how Utah’s Hogle Zoo has leveraged their position in the community to grow local conservation programs, support research, connect Zoo guests to conservation actions, and protect and restore parts of our watershed. As they aim to expand their conservation work, learn how you can join them and how they may be able to support your work.

Full Abstract:
Utah’s Hogle Zoo has supported conservation efforts around the world for decades. However, we also recognize that conservation is not just an “over there” issue and that there is meaningful conservation work to be done everywhere, including right here in Utah and the Salt Lake Valley. In looking at conservation needs around us, we have recognized our watersheds as areas of need and opportunity. We also recognized our unique position, as an organization with 1 million guests annually, to engage our community in our conservation work. In 2014, we started our western toad community science program which continues to this day. Western toads are native to Utah and found in high elevation wetlands. Their population numbers have declined throughout their range over the last 20 years, primarily through habitat loss and the fungal disease, chytrid. In Utah, small populations of toads are located large distances from each other, often in hard to access wetlands. Alongside our partners, our program utilizes community scientists guided by zoo biologists to gather as much data as we can about this elusive amphibian. This includes monitoring populations, tracking water quality, restoring habitats, and protecting critical wetlands. This project allows us to conduct more surveys with more eyes on the ground while building trust and increasing transparency between the public and governmental agencies and their management of our watersheds. Further expansion of our local conservation work identified the Jordan River as an area of importance to both our community and our local wildlife. This river connects Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake wetlands, carving a path through the Salt Lake Valley. Though the local community loves the river, it has seen pressure from human development and is in need of restoration. In partnership with the Jordan River Commission, we started our Jordan River Conservation and Restoration program in 2018. Through this program, we connect our community to this vital resource through volunteer events ranging from creation of pollinator gardens to floating cleanups. In addition to our volunteer events, we have also run a wildlife camera project along the river since 2020 as part of the larger Wasatch Wildlife Watch project. Using non-invasive trail cameras, we are able to observe the wildlife that relies on this river to better understand what is using it and how. Through this presentation you will learn how Utah’s Hogle Zoo has leveraged our position in our community to grow our local conservation programs and partnerships, support important research, connect our guests to conservation actions, and protect and restore parts of our watershed. As we continually aim to grow and expand our conservation work, learn how you can join us and how we may be able to support your work.

This panel presentation will explore how stakeholders are working together to safeguard the watershed, wildlife habitat, and ecosystems in the Wasatch Mountains from the threat of wildfires. Interagency panelists will present collaborative programs designed to reduce wildfire hazards through targeted fuel treatments in high-risk areas.

Full Abstract:
The Wasatch Mountains, an iconic landscape beloved for recreation and home to diverse ecosystems, face increasing wildfire risks. In response, several entities, including Save Our Canyons, Salt Lake City Public Utilities, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and the United States Forest Service, are collaborating on wildfire mitigation strategies through Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative in the Wasatch Mountains. This panel will explore how these stakeholders are working together to safeguard the watershed, wildlife habitat, and recreational areas from the growing threat of wildfires. Panelists will present collaborative programs designed to reduce wildfire hazards through targeted fuel treatments in high-risk areas, protecting both natural and human communities. Key learning objectives of this presentation include building trust among community leaders and residents by enhancing public engagement, communicating critical project milestones, and improving the transparency of fuel treatment efforts. Attendees will learn how these collaborative efforts prioritize effective, sustainable fuel management strategies while considering community input. Panelists will provide detailed insights on how treatment areas are expected to look before, during, and after fuel treatments, managing expectations and ensuring that the public understands the necessity and benefits of these actions. The panel will also highlight the importance of gaining broad support for additional funding and programs from land managers, policymakers, and the public. By discussing methodologies used to prioritize fuel treatment projects in the canyon, panelists will demonstrate how data-driven decisions are being applied to reduce wildfire risks in critical zones, balancing both conservation and public safety. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how cross-agency partnerships can effectively address fire hazards in the Wasatch Mountains and the critical role that community engagement plays in sustaining wildfire mitigation efforts. Through collaborative fire mitigation strategies, we can protect the Central Wasatch’s unique landscapes and the communities that depend on them. Learning Objectives: Build Trust Through Public Engagement: Improve community support for wildfire mitigation efforts by fostering ongoing dialogue, communicating critical project milestones, and enhancing the transparency of fire mitigation efforts. Public Awareness of Fuel Treatments: Ensure that the recreating public is informed about fuel treatment timing and scope in popular recreational areas and trailheads. Manage Public Expectations: Communicate what to expect before, during, and after fuel treatment implementation to gain public understanding and support. Build Support for Funding: Garner community and legislative backing for continued and expanded fire mitigation funding. Prioritization of Projects: Share methodologies used to prioritize fuel treatment projects in high-risk areas, ensuring that resources are used effectively to mitigate wildfire threats. By working together, these agencies are making strides in mitigating wildfire risks while maintaining the integrity and natural beauty of the Wasatch Mountains for generations to come.

The Jordan River Commission presents UPRIVER, a ‘watershed film’ that explores one of the Nation’s most active river conservation movements. Within Oregon’s Willamette River system, the film focuses on people from all walks of life who are coming together to revive the health of this large river and the life it supports.

For more information, please visit https://www.freshwatersillustrated.org/upriver.