Watershed Symposium 2024

Come and learn about the challenges of implementing a large-scale river delta restoration close to a major urban area in Utah County.

Full Abstract:
The Provo River Delta Restoration project is one of the largest ecological restoration projects completed in the Jordan River watershed. After 10 years of planning and almost 5 years of construction, this ambitious project has been completed and is now open to the public. The Delta was re-created where the Provo River enters Utah Lake and now provides habitat for the threatened June sucker to grow from larvae to juvenile and provides many recreation opportunities for residents and visitors to the area. With nearly five miles of new river channel, two-hundred acres of open waters, and complete public access to all areas, this will be a resource that is valued for generations to come. This presentation will provide insights into how to develop the needed partnerships to achieve something at this scale and we will discuss some of the challenges of implementing such a large project so close to a highly urbanized area. It required an ambitious vision, perseverance in the face of challenge, and lots of public outreach to get this project done. We hope you can go visit and get on the water, walk with your family, observe the abundant wildlife, and maybe drop in a fishing line at this great location that balances the needs of both fish and people. Check us out at www.provoriverdelta.us.

Ever wonder what’s really going on in Utahns’ minds and hearts when it comes to water? A new values study conducted by Envision Utah, Utah Water Ways, and others helps us understand not just what Utahns care about, but why Utahns care about the things they do. These findings are invaluable for anyone in water policy or public messaging.

Full Abstract:
Envision Utah and Utah Water Ways, along with other partners around the state, just completed a landmark research project to understand what’s in Utahns’ hearts and minds when it comes to water issues. Our findings tell us not just what Utahns care about, but why Utahns care about the things they do. This research will provide invaluable insights for anyone involved in water policy or public messaging.

Among other things, we found that:

• Utahns have high awareness and concern about water issues — though not quite as high as some other western states.
• Many Utahns have a high sense of self-efficacy when it comes to water — they believe they can make a meaningful difference in water conservation.
• Utahns believe that state and municipal governments bear a lot of responsibility to reduce individual water use. 
• Utahns have some significant misconceptions about how water is used and what strategies would do the most to reduce household and community water use. 

In addition, our findings also include “values maps” that represent how Utahns connect water to their deeply held priorities. We also have findings related to landscaping preferences, effective messages to motivate individual behavior changes, and even the words and phrases that Utahns best respond to.

Attendees will learn the answers to these important questions (i.e., learning objectives):

• What does the public understand — and misunderstand — about key water issues?
• What water-related issues do Utahns most care about? Why do Utahns care about those issues?
• What are the deeply held values and beliefs that motivate their priorities? 
• What kinds of tradeoffs are Utahns willing to make to serve their priorities?
• How do priorities, values, and tradeoffs differ by region or other demographics?
• How do we most effectively communicate about water-related issues to motivate behavior change? 

This research is hot off the presses — symposium attendees will be among the first to see the results. The research was conducted with a week-long online focus group and a random-sample survey of 800 Utahns.

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.

A recent survey across the Intermountain West found that the foremost challenge facing wetland managers was increasing temperatures and drought. Through a survey of wetland managers working in state and federal agencies, we identified how changes in temperature and precipitation are affecting the region's wetlands and how managers are responding to those changes. Participants will learn about the most common strategies employed and the predictions that wetland managers have for the future. The session will give participants a chance to share ideas about how the results might be used to inform future policies to improve wetland sustainability in one of the driest regions of North America.

A native walk of the Bear River with the ancestors of the Bear River and the life ways it provided and must still provide.

Full Abstract:
The Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation has lived in the Bear River Watershed for over 13,000 years. The Bear River was the most important resources to our ancestors. It gave life. It was abundant with game, wetlands, drinking water, fish, and was a trail system for our people, and it always flowed into the Great Salt Lake. We would like to discuss our Tribal History of the Bear River and how we used it historically, how we used the Great Salt Lake, and how the depletion of these resources would be catastrophic to every in the Wasatch Front. We want to discuss food we used, grounds we farmed, and all the native plants that existed and how losing them is causing us to lose the river and a depletion in the Great Salt Lake. It'll be a native walking experience of the Bear River.

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.

As Utah faces water scarcity, reevaluating water allocations to reflect the highest social value is crucial. By integrating social values into aquifer storage and recovery projects, communities can boost water's contribution to well-being, ensuring security, resilience, and equitable access for future generations.

Full Abstract:
Water resource management regimes allocate water across different users and, at least implicitly, across time. The traditional focus has been on satisfying the demands of municipal, residential, agricultural, and commercial uses. Increasingly, demands for water in Utah to support ecological functioning have been recognized. However, as communities grapple with the challenges of water scarcity, there is a growing recognition for the need to assess whether current allocations reflect highest and best use of water now and into the future. What is needed are allocations that get the most social value for each acre-foot buck. This requires determining a “social value of water” in each of its uses, including use now versus use in the future and in different circumstances — for example, in good and bad years for precipitation. This presentation explores the concept of assessing social values of water in the context of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects. We show that by properly accounting for social values across all situations, the total contribution of water to social wellbeing in communities can go up, even as the physical amount of water is unchanged. Current approaches may be severely missing that mark. The presentation will highlight the importance of understanding and quantifying the broader economic and social dimensions ASR projects and other management actions and their potential to enhance water security, community resilience, equitable access, and economic activity for present and future generations.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.