Watershed Symposium 2024

Welcome to the 18th Annual Salt Lake County Watershed Symposium. Thank you for being here.

Our interdisciplinary and cross-sector community of environmental scientists, advocates, educators, and managers from across the region have achieved much progress over the last decade in advancing the stewardship of our watershed.

The challenges we face in water and climate demand new scales of alignment, collaboration, and innovation. What can our community do to be well prepared to meet the needs and opportunities in the coming decade?

Commissioner Brian Steed and Deputy Commissioner Tim Davis will provide an update on the implementation of the Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan, current conditions of the lake, and the next steps for the long term health of the lake.

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.

The Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine (SWSIE)  envisions a thriving future for the Southwest as a hub of green innovation, with industries and communities supported by clean water and renewable energy with STEM-enabled jobs and economic growth accessible to all.

Full Abstract:
University of Utah along with six core academic partners are part of a multi-institutional enterprise to confront the climate challenges facing the Southwest and spur economic development in the region. The Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine (SWSIE) addresses sustainability-driven innovations with an integrated, systems-level approach to equitably transform water security, renewable energy, and net carbon emissions and use of carbon directly captured from the atmosphere.

The mission is to transform the Southwest region into a national innovation hub, leading not only to positive climate impacts, but also to high wage jobs, economic growth, and technology-based startups and venture capital investments. The SWSIE Team envisions a thriving future for the Southwest as a hub of green innovation, with industries and communities supported by clean water and renewable energy with STEM-enabled jobs and economic growth accessible to all. To unleash this potential, SWSIE is building an ecosystem of researchers, innovators, educators, and decision-makers to harness STEM innovation and grow a workforce pipeline for the net zero economy.

This presentation will provide an overview of the innovation of SWSIE, with a focus on water. The presentation will discuss SWSIE strength in translation of research to commercialization and connecting academia with industry. This includes a roadmap for success, workforce development, and more. Further, the presentation will provide examples of projects and future initiatives. Core academic partners in SWSIE are University of Utah, Arizona State University, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Desert Research Institute, the Water Research Foundation, SciTech Institute and Maricopa Community Colleges.

Welcome to Day 2 of the Watershed Symposium! We're so glad you're here.

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.

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.