Watershed Symposium 2024

This study aims to identify major phosphorus origins in Utah Lake’s watershed, quantify phosphorus influx from each source to Utah Lake, visualize HAB occurrences, and assess the correlation between phosphorus levels and HAB distribution.

Full Abstract:
This study aims to identify major phosphorus origins in Utah Lake’s watershed, quantify phosphorus influx from each source to Utah Lake, visualize HAB occurrences, and assess the correlation between phosphorus levels and HAB distribution. To accomplish this goal, our research team conducted in-situ water sampling and nutrient concentration measurements. We utilized geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing geospatial techniques to categorize key phosphorus sources to Utah Lake, employed empirical models to quantify nutrient runoff, and leveraged Google Earth Engine (GEE) and ArcGIS Pro to automate the processing of Landsat images for visualizing HAB distribution in Utah Lake. The identified key nutrient sources include urban lawns, golf courses, parks, herbaceous, deciduous forest, evergreen forest, mixed forest, hay/pasture, and cultivated crops. Their respective total areas ranged from 9.5 km² to 1,775.7 km², with golf courses being the smallest and deciduous forests being the largest. Notably, urban lawns and cultivated crops, covering 337 km² and 344.41 km2, emerged as two significant phosphorus sources to Utah Lake, despite constituting only 7.5% and 7.6% of the total Utah Lake Watershed area, respectively. Furthermore, our analysis revealed a close correlation between HAB distribution and phosphorus levels in the lake. Prior studies on Utah Lake have focused primarily on phosphorus loading from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and atmospheric deposition. While WWTPs are still the major phosphorus contributors to the occurrence of HABs, our findings suggest that land-derived non-point nutrient sources play a substantial role in triggering HABs in Utah Lake.

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.

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.

Explore the EPA 9-Element watershed planning framework and discover key strategies for effective watershed management. Learn from the Heber Valley success story, showcasing practical approaches and collaborative efforts that led to improved water quality. Gain insights to enhance your own watershed plans and community engagement.

Full Abstract:
In this presentation, we will delve into the intricacies of the EPA 9-Element watershed planning framework, a comprehensive approach designed to enhance watershed management and water quality. Attendees will gain a thorough understanding of the nine essential components required for effective watershed plans, including stakeholder involvement, problem identification, and measurable goals. The session will highlight practical strategies for developing and implementing these plans, ensuring they address local water quality issues and regulatory requirements. A focal point of the presentation will be the Heber Valley watershed plan, a compelling case study that exemplifies the successful application of the 9-Element framework. Participants will learn about the innovative approaches and collaborative efforts that contributed to the plan's success, including an interactive complex data story map that is updated annually for stakeholder use. By examining this real-world example, attendees will acquire valuable insights and actionable knowledge for crafting their own effective watershed plans, ultimately contributing to improved water quality and environmental stewardship in their regions.

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.

How much water is Utah actually delivering to the imperiled Great Salt Lake? Are we heading toward a healthy Lake or costly mitigation? In this workshop, we explore a new report showcasing sobering findings exploring the consequences drying up the Great Salt Lake could have on Wasatch Front residents’ health and the state’s pocketbook.

Full Abstract:
If the Great Salt Lake is in peril, Utah is in peril. Great Salt Lake water levels are on a long-term decline – due to decades of upstream water diversions and climate change-driven aridification in the basin – exposing a vast expanse of dry lakebed that contains a number of toxic components. This creates a looming public health and economic crisis for residents of Northern Utah and the Wasatch Front. What are the financial and public health impacts to the millions of Utahns living adjacent to the Lake if we fail to deliver enough water to address current lakebed exposure issues and prevent continuing decline? In this session we will explore findings from a year of research that has culminated in a revelatory new report showcasing sobering findings concerning the consequences that drying up the Great Salt Lake could have on the health of Wasatch Front residents and the costly mitigation measures that could be required to suppress dust if Utah doesn’t succeed in raising Lake levels. We will present findings from what is, to our knowledge, the largest and most comprehensive review of the medical science of public health impacts from Great Salt Lake lakebed exposure. We will summarize what hundreds of papers show are the many and serious health implications associated with exposure to lakebed dust, discuss the possible presence of overlooked toxins in Great Salt Lake dust and their likely impact, and compare this emerging health emergency to that of other desiccated lakes around the world. In an analysis of efforts to deliver water to the Great Salt Lake, we will explore how effective Utah has been in meeting targets to deliver an additional 500,000 to 1 million acre feet of wet water each year to the Lake – the amounts needed to raise the Lake to a minimum healthy level and prevent catastrophic dust storms. Finally, we will examine whether we are headed toward a future of mitigation, like Owens Lake, and provide an updated and more detailed estimate of the costs associated with keeping dust from a desiccated Great Salt Lake on the ground.

Fish are routinely monitored for tissue contaminants that pose health risks to the public. We synthesized 25 years of fish tissue monitoring data from the Great Salt Lake Watershed to support risk assessments for public health and direct State monitoring resources toward high-risk waterbodies, contaminants, and fish species within Utah.

Full Abstract:
Fish accumulate contaminants from water, sediments, and their diet that can pose health risks to those who consume them. Recognizing this risk, the Utah Department of Natural Resources and Utah Department of Environmental Quality collaborate to routinely sample fish and analyze their tissue for a range of contaminants. We synthesized 25 years of fish tissue monitoring data from the Great Salt Lake Watershed to identify trends in contaminant concentrations over time, highlighting specific fish species, waterbodies, and regions of concern. A local case study on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Utah Lake is discussed to demonstrate how the State utilizes fish tissue monitoring data to communicate health risks to the public and inform response plans aimed at reducing contaminant exposure. Our findings not only support risk assessments for public health and environmental safety, but also direct State monitoring resources toward high-risk waterbodies, contaminants, and fish species within Utah.

Dust blowing from dry lakebeds annually darkens the snowpack of the Great Salt Lake Basin. The darkened snow absorbs more sunlight, resulting in earlier snowmelt. Here, we have used a combination of fieldwork, satellite observations, and modeling to quantify the impact of dust snowmelt, in hopes of improving water supply forecasts in the region.

Full Abstract:
Seasonal snow in the Great Salt Lake Basin (GSLB) provides critical water resources for human infrastructure and local ecosystems alike. The GSLB snowpack has a first order influence on water availability to 2.7 million Utahns and provides the main surface inflows to the Great Salt Lake. Snowmelt rates are primarily controlled by snow albedo, which is impacted by surface darkening from light absorbing particles (LAPs). In the Wasatch Mountains, the primary LAP constituent is dust originating from dry lakebeds across the eastern Great Basin. Dust accelerates snowmelt, adding uncertainty to streamflow forecasts. Despite this, the impact of dust on snowmelt timing is not well known in the GSLB and is not directly accounted for in operational models. Here we present three years of research targeted at quantifying the spatial and temporal distribution of dust on snow and its impacts on snowmelt rates and timing across the GSLB. Our work includes a time series of point-based field observations, analysis of 23 years of satellite remote sensing retrievals, and basin distributed process-based snowmelt modeling. Results reveal that dust impacts snowmelt annually, but with high variability year-to-year, and with no strong temporal trends in the last two decades. The annual impact of dust on snowmelt was quantified over two distinctly different water years (2022 and 2023) by running two model implementations with different albedo representations: 1) A standard time decay relationship representing clean snow albedo evolution, and 2) daily remotely sensed observed snow albedo from MODIS. Differences between model runs, evaluated by melt rates, surface water inputs, and snow depletion timing, reflect the influence of snow darkening on snowmelt across the basin. This approach has allowed us to parse out physical drivers of snowmelt and is the first study to quantify snowmelt acceleration due to dust over the GSLB.

The Water Conservation Toolbox was developed to provide municipalities and local governments with essential strategies to optimize water conservation. It includes customizable ordinances, rate structures, and landscape incentive programs focused on water conservation, tailored to meet the conservation goals of different community types.

Full Abstract:
The Great Salt Lake Advisory Council, in collaboration with SWCA Environmental Consultants, has developed a comprehensive Water Conservation Toolbox. This toolbox is informed by lessons learned and the specific challenges faced by Utah’s municipalities. It provides practical guidance for setting water prices, including insights into price elasticity and stakeholder engagement. Additionally, it includes model ordinances aimed at reducing outdoor water use and enhancing indoor efficiency. The toolbox also features landscape incentive programs to encourage water-conserving landscaping. Its primary goal is to equip municipalities and local governments with the necessary information and strategies to optimize their water conservation efforts.

In the Western US, irrigation companies play a key role in water conservation, navigating diverse challenges and strategies. Interviews with 18 companies in the Great Salt Lake Basin reveal varied conservation practices and highlight themes like motivations, techniques, and barriers. These insights can support effective water management policies.

Full Abstract:
In the Western US, water conservation efforts are currently top of mind and a rising priority for many individuals and entities. Irrigation companies are an example of an entity whose priorities are focusing on water conservation. Irrigation companies are on-the-ground, day-to-day water managers that are faced with decisions and challenges when it comes to water conservation. There is empirical evidence that emphasizes the importance of multi-scalar, multi-dimensional water conservation efforts. The wide array of efforts and practices related to water conservation are all important when looking at the big picture of conservation. Therefore, viewing a diverse set of conservation efforts to be available to irrigation companies can allow for individuals and entities of all sizes and capacities to participate in conservation efforts in accessible ways. Therefore, the steps and efforts that entities like irrigation companies are able to take toward conservation are critical within the larger picture of water conservation. In the Great Salt Lake Basin, 18 irrigation companies participated in semi-structured interviews where topics around water conservation efforts were discussed. Within the realm of irrigation companies, water conservation efforts look quite different even within the same basin. Examples of some of these efforts include reducing general water usage, work towards making more efficient systems, and participation in water leasing and banking. Conservation themes that arose in the qualitative analysis of the interviews include conservation motivations, conservation decisions, and specific conservation techniques and applications of these irrigation companies. Discussions of the enabling and constraining factors around conservation such as funding and collaborative relationships also arose. These enabling and constraining factors give insights into how to better support the work of these companies at larger policy levels. The themes and findings here are being shared not as a way to dictate what other irrigation companies should be doing, but rather what other irrigation companies could be doing in terms of water conservation. These insights also recognize the work and efforts that these companies are currently participating in and highlight how water conservation is an important component to these irrigation companies. In order to build off these qualitative findings, future efforts of this project will potentially include a paired survey of irrigation companies in the basin to capture more generalizable, quantifiable perspectives. Co-Author: Courtney Flint, Professor, Utah State University, https://courtneyflint.wordpress.com

Exploring challenges and gaps with implementing conservation and protection best practices for sensitive lands around Great Salt Lake and the Jordan River. A critical and often overlooked component of a healthy watershed.

Full Abstract:
While communities are putting greater focus on increasing density and redeveloping urban spaces, critical natural lands and agricultural areas at the edges of our cities continue to be a target for new development. But at what cost? Many city general plans include general guiding principles and goals oriented toward preservation of critical lands, but the tools to actualize these goals often lag far behind development pressures. Our decentralized local land use policies can be a patchwork of strengths and weaknesses, and on a regional issues like preserving sensitive lands around Great Salt Lake, how do you coordinate efforts for the best outcomes. Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County offer a useful and ongoing case study. Both have adopted plans with aspirations to “expand natural lands and watershed protection,” and specific goals to “over the next 25 years, …protect and restore critical wildlife habitat, sensitive natural lands, and open space.” There have been some important wins: setting aside a natural buffer area between the Inland Port in Salt Lake City and wetlands of Great Salt Lake, establishing the Legacy Nature Preserve along the northern extent of the Jordan River in North Salt Lake, and other significant greenways and riparian restoration projects across the Jordan River. But is the rate of suburban, light industrial development outpacing conservation of remaining critical natural areas, particularly integral upland areas that are part of the Great Salt Lake Shorelands ecosystem? Have we done enough? This presentation explores some of the gaps and challenges reconciling broad preservation and restoration goals associated with general plans, and the deficit of codified land use tools encoded in local laws and ordinances. With a very decentralized local government land use structures, lack of coordinated regional frameworks and cooperation around sensitive lands, and often conflicting development pressures, real estate development is often outpacing preservation and restoration of critical lands adjacent to our waterways and Great Salt Lake, putting the capacity for improving water quality, conserving water, sustaining habitat resources of migratory pathways to Global Important Bird Areas and other wildlife at high risk. We present the need for establishing a Shoreline Heritage Area around Great Salt Lake and coordinated efforts to protect and conserve riparian and other natural lands around the Jordan River and Great Salt Lake for both human and wildlife welfare. We’ll present brief case studies with some hits and missed opportunities, as we continue ways to increase coordination and cooperation around our shared conservation efforts.