Water News Roundup – August 23, 2010

Ogden Standard Examiner:

Morgan County says municipalities should handle water infrastructure – While county officials wait for the end of a water moratorium and the overdue publication of a water study, they are saying that municipalities should shoulder future responsibility for water infrastructure.

Farmington authorizes new city well – A project to drill for a new city well will move ahead, despite some second thoughts among city officials after hearing from local residents.

Salt Lake Tribune  – Editorial: Teachable moment – Eternal optimists were flummoxed by the Red Butte Creek oil spill. What good can possibly come from 33,600 gallons of crude pouring from a ruptured Chevron pipeline into the creek?

Las Vegas Sun: State reconsidering request to pump water from upstate – State Engineer Jason King has set new deadlines for handling the applications filed in 1989 to pump billions of gallons of water from rural Nevada to Las Vegas.

St. George Spectrum (requires sub.): Vegas water pipeline foes seek NV court hearing – Opponents of a proposed multibillion-dollar water pipeline from northeastern Nevada to Las Vegas are mounting a procedural challenge to a Nevada Supreme Court order sending the case to a state official for review.

Water News Roundup – June 23, 2010

A perfect day for streamflow measurements in the morning!

Deseret News:

Open houses planned for Provo canal project – A series of three open houses is planned next month to explain the details of a $150 million project that will enclose the entire Provo Reservoir Canal.

Restoration project could pave the way for Jordan River Parkway Trail segment – Bikers, walkers and roller bladers may have to wait a few years, but action that could eventually pave the way for a new segment of the Jordan River Parkway Trail was launched Wednesday.

KCPW: Chevron reopens Red Butte pipeline – Chevron has reopened a 13.75 mile segment of pipeline that’s been shut down since it leaked 33,000 gallons, or about 800 barrels, of crude oil into Red Butte Creek earlier this month.

KSL:

Gasoline seeps into Emery county groundwater – For several weeks, residents in Ferron in Emery Countyhave complained of the smell of gasoline in their homes coming through their floor drains.

Lab results say pipeline effects diminishing, but still a danger – Utah water-quality officials say the toxic effects of a pipeline oil leak in a Salt Lake City creek are diminishing but still endanger aquatic life.

Water News Roundup – June 2, 2010

An interesting set of groundwater rulings that address whether an adjacent user’s water right is impaired by declining water table levels.  Jeff Gittens provides a clear summary – thank you Jeff!  Here is the legal-ese version.

Utah Water Law & Water Rights Blog:  Bingham vs. Roosevelt City – The Utah Supreme Court recently issued its opinion in Bingham v. Roosevelt City. The case centered around five City wells, known as the Hayden Well Field, through which the City pumped water out of an unconfined, shallow aquifer underlying the Hayden area. The water level in the area dropped significantly due to the City’s pumping. For example, the static water level at one well dropped from 14.3 feet to 94.6 feet.

Water world in pictures today – a bit bleak:

Recent satellite imagery of the gulf (complete with helpful ‘oil’ labels.. ha!):

Beautiful satellite imagery of the Colorado River Delta:

View of the sinkhole in Guatemala caused by recent tropical storms:

Water News Roundup – March 24, 2010

KSL: Study says mercury in Great Salt Lake is global problem – Scientific studies are turning up answers to a baffling mystery about the Great Salt Lake. The new findings help explain why concentrations of toxic mercury in the lake are higher than anywhere else in the country.

Salt Lake Tribune: St. George, Provo-Orem growing fast – When it comes to growth, Utah is still whistlin’ Dixie, Coal Country is still singing the blues and the state, as a whole, is still humming lullabies.

Deseret News: Meetings set to explain groundwater treatment proposal – The first in a series of informational meetings about a proposal to pipe the treated byproducts of a groundwater cleanup project to the Great Salt Lake’s Gilbert Bay is scheduled for Wednesday.

Details about the meetings can be found on the DEQ’s website.

Also, Continue to celebrate World Water Week by increasing awareness!  There are some great articles and amazing photography on National Geographic’s website.

A concise info-graphic of water facts: 10 things you should know about water.

My fav: A photo collection of some of California’s water infrastructure that is at risk and downloadable water wallpaper! Ooo!

Technorati Tags: Gilbert Bay,Great Salt Lake,Groundwater,JVWCD,population growth,mercury

Water News Roundup – March 9, 2010

Daily Herald – Opinion: Trailing indicators – Vigorous public debate has once again showed its effectiveness — this time in helping to clarify why it’s time to begin work on the Murdock Canal Trail.

Happy Groundwater Awareness Week!  (Mar. 7 – 13th) Didn’t even know there was such a thing until today, but it’s a great reminder to get your well tested and perform any preventive maintenance on your groundwater equipment.

Jordan River Basin Plan Released for Public Comment

Salt Lake City, Utah  –  A regional water plan for the Salt Lake Valley is now available.  The Utah Division of Water Resources has just released Jordan River Basin-Planning for the Future, which is the latest in the series of “Utah State Water Plan” reports.

The new report is a comprehensive review of the Salt Lake Valley’s water resources.  It discusses current supplies and uses and explores in-depth how future demands will be met.  “This report has been reviewed by the major water suppliers in the valley and is now ready to receive input from the public,” said Dennis Strong, Division Director.  “We believe the plan lays out a roadmap that will ensure the water needs of the valley are met in a way that is economically and socially responsible, and also protects the environment.”

The new report also addresses future population projections and associated water demands to 2060, water conservation goals and successes, innovative water management strategies, major water development projects, and water quality and environmental issues.

A public meeting to receive comment on the report is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at the Department of Natural Resources, 1594 W. North Temple in Salt Lake City.  A copy of the report is available at the division’s web site:  www.water.utah.gov.  Printed copies can also be obtained by contacting the division.

The Division of Water Resources plans, conserves, develops and protects Utah’s water resources.

Technorati Tags: Groundwater,groundwater awareness,Murdock Canal,Provo Reservoir Canal,Provo Reservoir Canal Enclosure Project,Jordan River,Jordan River Basin Plan

Water News Roundup – February 4, 2010

Salt Lake Tribune: Green River power plan generates big questions – A fledgling company’s plan to build a 3,000 megawatt nuclear power plant near the Green River in eastern Utah is generating more questions than answers.

Deseret News: Utah groups challenge uranium mill’s plan to divert groundwater – Two Utah-based conservation groups have filed a challenge in Colorado Water Court to three applications for groundwater that flows into the Dolores River.

Utah Water News wants to let you know that February 12th is RIDE UTA FREE day in support of Governor Herbert and Mayor Becker’s ‘Clean Air Challenge‘!  If you happen to be out and about that day, take advantage of a free bus, Trax or Frontrunner ride.