Watershed Symposium 2024

Summary:
Development of the Great Salt Lake Basin Plan is underway and the Utah Division of Water Resources is excited to update you on the progress of the first-ever basin-wide water management tool. Implementation of the tool will ensure a resilient water supply for Great Salt Lake and all water uses, including people and the environment, in the basin.

Full Abstract:
The Utah Division of Water Resources is excited to share an update on the first-ever Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Plan (GSLBIP). Since we presented at the 2023 Watershed Symposium, we’ve made significant progress, completing several key foundational tasks and paving the way for more impactful milestones ahead. These tasks will culminate in the creation of an important decision-making tool for improved water resource management. When the tools and research findings from the project are complete, decision makers will be equipped to make informed decisions about water planning in the Great Salt Lake Basin. Once implemented, the goal of the Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Plan is to ensure a resilient water supply for Great Salt Lake and all water uses — including people and the environment — throughout the watershed. As part of the 2024 GSLBIP update, the Division of Water Resources team will dive into how we’re actively bringing the recommendations in the GSLBIP Work Plan (completed in April 2024) to life. We will bring attendees up to speed on the planning and modeling approaches, discuss near-term milestones and begin exploring possible watershed management alternatives to be considered in the scenario-planning process. Alongside the development of an innovative water resource modeling tool, the GSLBIP is conducting important research that will shape and guide future water planning decisions. The Gap Analysis in the GSLBIP Work Plan identified over 150 potential projects that could enhance understanding of water flows in the Great Salt Lake Basin. Project partners honed in on eight key projects, and all are now officially underway, marking an exciting step forward in the plan’s progress. We will provide an update on those projects and explain how we envision them playing a pivotal role in future watershed planning.