Water News Roundup & Moratorium Edition

I am very sad to say this will be my last Water News in Utah update for a while.  I have been offered a job that likely won’t allow me to keep posting in a substantial way. I will leave the site up in the meantime however, since it has become a handy reference and news story archive. I hope you’ve enjoyed the water news round-up over the past year. I know I have, and I’ll be back if I can swing it. Thanks again for devoting time and energy to stay informed.

Salt Lake Tribune: Oil shale problems – In “Oil and water” (Forum, Aug. 14), Bill Johnson, Utah’s “community representative” for the U.S. Congressional Task Force on Strategic Unconventional Fuels, promotes oil shale development and says that there is enough water to uphold this industry because one study estimates that only about 1.7 barrels of water are needed to produce a barrel of shale oil.

Living history: Utah Lake carp provided food for the needy – Utah Lake was once a fabulous, rich fishery. George Washington Bean, a settler in Utah Valley, wrote that Ute tribes gathered at the lake “on account of the wonderful supply of fish moving up the stream from the Lake to their spawning grounds each spring.

KSL: Feds give $100,000 to help save June sucker in Utah Lake – The Federal Government has given the Central Utah Water Conservancy District $100,000 to rid Utah Lake of non-native fish.

St. George Spectrum: Water rate structure questioned – Water resources and the systems that make use of them shape the way a community develops and thrives, but Cedar City resident Doug Hall believes unless a new water rate structure is instituted by Cedar City Corporation, Festival City USA will no longer have cause for celebration.

The St. George Spectrum online edition requires a login.  I find it interesting that one of Cedar City’s water rate critics cites Washington County Water Conservancy District’s rate structure as a possible model for Cedar City.

Water News Roundup – August 9, 2010

KSL: Counties sign Jordan River Pact – Three Wasatch Front counties took a major step Wednesday to make the Jordan River corridor a greater community centerpiece.

Agencies discuss safety plans for the Jordan River – Several agencies met to discuss safety plans for a trouble spot along the Jordan River after couple died last weekend while kayaking.

Logan canal project could be delayed by study – Work to restore the full flow of irrigation water to thousands of acres of northern Utah farmland could be delayed now that a more in-depth environmental study on a canal project is planned.

Pleasant Grove sets water restrictions – Pleasant Grove has issued a citywide conservation plan for watering.  Residents in odd-numbered houses can water on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The days for even-numbered homes are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

KCPW: Local officials sign agreement to create Jordan River Commission – Representatives from Salt Lake, Davis and Utah Counties signed an agreement this afternoon to coordinate efforts to restore and revive the Jordan River. And they’re calling the plan “historic.” KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports.

Water News Roundup – July 29, 2010

Deseret News:

Flash floods might continue in southern Utah – The National Weather Service’s forecast of high precipitation levels and flash flooding proved true Tuesday as a mudslide blocked traffic in Grand County. The NWS issued a flash flood warning Tuesday morning for southern and eastern counties in Utah.

Payson officials remind residents of watering schedule – Although Utah experienced a wet winter and spring, water restrictions continue in this south Utah County city.

Report says Utah, northwest poised to make change to clean energy – Utah is among seven regional states identified in a new analysis as the best-positioned area in the country to transition to clean energy within 40 years.

KSL: Western climate initiative offers cap and trade – A coalition of seven western states and three Canadian provinces on Tuesday offered its most detailed strategy yet for controlling greenhouse gas emissions blamed for climate change, saying they hope it will stand as a model for national systems in the United States and Canada.

KCPW: Western climate initiative cap and trade plan released – The most detailed plan yet detailing how the Western Climate Initiative will attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions came out yesterday.

Ogden Standard Examiner: Energy startup defends oil sands project in Utah – An energy startup from Canada on Tuesday defended its plan to launch the first significant U.S. oil sands project in eastern Utah, after opponents argued it would dig up fragile topsoil and pollute groundwater.

After reading up on the “water/energy nexus” I am convinced that stories covering energy, such as cap and trade, oil shale development and renewables, are tightly integrated with water provision.  Water is inexpensive at this time, but will likely increase in cost in the near future as these two resources constrain each other.

A view of the capitol building this morning for a Think!Energy breakfast:

Water News Roundup – July 26, 2010

Provo Daily Herald: Residents learn more about canal, trail project – Jackie Adamson says seeing plans for the $150 million Provo Reservoir Canal Enclosure Project is like watching a life-long dream come true.

Deseret News:

Most residents voice support for Murdock canal, trail plan – Few people pay attention to the “No Trespassing” sign that warns people off the maintenance road along the Murdock Canal.  Every day, walkers, runners and cyclists can be found using the dirt road, and no one stops them.

Safe drinking water a goal of Utah agencies, cities – Orders to boil water issued in two cities about a month apart this year highlighted an aspect of modern-day living most people take for granted — safe drinking water as close as the kitchen faucet.

KSL: Southern Utah officials help residents save water – Water officials in southern Utah are continuing a program that offers free irrigation system checks to residents so they can save water.

AWRA Blog: Evaluating sustainability of water demands in 2050 under climate change –Tetra Tech and the Natural Resources Defense Council have just released the report, Evaluating Sustainability of Projected Water Demands under Future Climate Change Scenarios.

St. George Spectrum (sub. required): The Slide Divide – A discussion that initially started out over a battle of water rights for a few individuals on Cedar Mountain has escalated to an issue that could affect all of Iron County and its taxpayers.

Water News Roundup – July 20, 2010

Even die-hard water newsies like myself have to break for vacation now and again.  I’ll be up running the Snake River over the next few days.  The water news will be back on Monday.

St. George Spectrum:  (Unfortunately the Spectrum has switched to a subscription only format on the web.  You must have a subscription to view the articles below.  I am considering leaving the Spectrum out of the Roundup because of this.  Or I can keep posting them with a note that says ‘sub only.’ What would my readers prefer?  Feedback is greatly appreciated.  Please use the comment link, also below.)

Pipeline studies plodding along – Thousands of pages in, work continues on a group of studies on the possible environmental and social impacts of a proposed $1 billion dollar pipeline…

Residents look to save water – Triple-digit temperatures and a lack of rain have some people scratching their heads about how to keep their plants and lawns green…

Salt Lake Tribune:  Public input sought for proposed otter plan – The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is seeking public input on a proposed plan to guide northern river otter management in Utah for the next decade.

High Country News:  Dust takes a toll – Imtiaz Rangwala studies climate change on the Tibetan Plateau and, more recently, in the American West. In mid-May, the climatologist flew into Durango, Colo., through skies darkened by dust… (Subscription required.  Fortunately HCN offers a free 30-day trial.  Give this great pub a whirl!)

Water News Roundup – July 19, 2010

KSL: Sustainability, water conservation – In this Sunday Edition, KSL’s Richard Piatt discusses Salt Lake City’s sustainability plan with a city leader and a member of the builders association. Also, the need for water conservation is explained by two water experts.

Salt Lake Tribune: Bonneville Shoreline Trail access at Red Butte off-limits – The Bonneville Shoreline Trail remains off-limits at Red Butte Creek more than a month after a Chevron pipeline rupture disgorged crude oil into the waterway.

Water News Roundup – July 6, 2010

I’m back from what could possibly be described as the most awesome Fourth of July EVER!  Ahhhh…. welcome back to the water news work week.

Salt Lake Tribune has a bunch of stories that will be posted as soon as they manage to get their website up and running (doh!)

KSL: Insider details state’s issue with energy study – Utah officials spent $200,000 in federal and state funds to have the study done. But when it was finished a few months ago, they sidetracked it and refused to vouch for it — after it ran into a wall of opposition from industry.  The study blames Utah power plants for 202 premature deaths each year and for health and water costs up to $2 billion annually.

An interesting study of how irrigation method possibly contributes to or limits groundwater E. coli contamination…

Science: Keeping feces on the farm – Think dairy farm, and your mind may wander to images of cows grazing dewy green pastures, as glistening silos and red-walled farmhouses slumber in the distance. But something sinister is lurking in the grass: cow feces crawling with disease-causing Escherichia coli bacteria. A new study, however, reveals that these bacteria are much less likely to enter  groundwater and cause illness if farmers spray their fields with water rather than flooding them, as is traditional.

Water News Roundup – June 1, 2010

KSL: Water use down considerably in Salt Lake City – Millions of gallons of water, hundreds of thousands of dollars.  That’s how much Salt Lake International Airport has saved by switching out thirsty lawns for water-wise landscaping.

Since urging conservation, water use is down considerably in Salt Lake City.

Las Vegas Sun: Water authority eye power for pipeline plan – Southern Nevada Water Authority is on the verge of getting into the geothermal power business.

Provo Daily Herald: Saratoga leaders consider imposing fines for cross connections – Saratoga Springs leaders are talking about putting teeth into a city code on cross connecting culinary drinking water with irrigation lines after a bacteria outbreak.

Deseret News – Editorial: Utah’s water is precious – May 24 had a record-breaking snowfall. And we don’t dare complain.

Salt Lake Tribune – Editorial:

Whoever thought this bathtub was a good idea? – A dozen miles from Lake Powell, up the Dirty Devil River, our canoes enter the old lake-bottom layer.

Great Salt Lake belongs to all of us – I was perplexed after reading Corey Milne’s op-ed (“A new approach to the Great Salt Lake,” Opinion, May 15).

Water News Roundup – May 4, 2010

Deseret News: More than 1,600 file protests over plan to tap Snake Valley aquifer – The protests are piling up over a plan that proposes to tap water from an aquifer in Snake Valley that straddles the border of Utah and Nevada.

St. George Spectrum: Water week educates residents – Water managers across Utah kicked off a series of tours, educational events and other activities Monday as part of Water Week, a statewide effort to promote water conservation and educate about how people use water.

Salt Lake Tribune – Editorial: Shrinking lake – The Great Salt Lake is shrinking, taking vital wetlands with it. While the lake level historically rises and falls dramatically, warming temperatures and dwindling snowpack could mean a permanently smaller lake. If that happens, millions of birds and other wildlife could lose vital food, shelter and nesting areas.

Technorati Tags: Great Salt Lake,groundwater management,Nevada,Snake Valley,SNWA,Water Conservation,Water Week

Water New Roundup – May 3, 2010

Deseret News:

Bear Lake the ‘Caribbean of the Rockies’ – Bear Lake and Bear River share a name — but for 10,000 years, their waters did not mingle. Earthquake activity had shifted the course of the river that horseshoes around the lake, cutting off the lake.

Plan for Jordan River rehabilitation moves forward – The Salt Lake County Council became the first government entity to sign off on an ambitious plan to rehabilitate the Jordan River, preserve and acquire neighboring open space and develop a “lake-to-lake” trail along its 50-mile corridor.

Salt Lake Tribune:  Groups say Great Salt Lake needs help staying wet – The idea of a Great Salt Lake with too little water might seem hard to fathom.  But some of the iconic lake’s biggest fans spent three days this week discussing signs it might be water-starved already and what the fallout might be if it shrinks more.

Salt Lake Tribune – Editorial:  River revival – A plan to reinvigorate the Jordan River is gaining momentum.  A coalition of river advocates called the Blueprint Jordan River Implementation Committee has put together an intergovernmental agreement that would bring together 15 cities and three counties to revive the Jordan.

Ogden Standard Examiner: Officials, advocates debate Great Salt Lake management – A massive dust storm Tuesday turned Top of Utah gray, raised particulate pollution and served as a coincidental introduction for this year’s Great Salt Lake Issues Forum.

KSL:

Groups float Great Salt Lake water right idea – Some of the biggest fans of the Great Salt Lake are floating a new idea in response to concern the lake is starved for water and could shrink even more.  Giving the lake its own water share, through a dedicated water right or conservation pool, was one of the proposals discussed at the Friends of Great Salt Lake forum this week.

State and city leaders kick off Water Week! – Leaders, residents and businesses across the state are gearing up to raise awareness of the importance of water conservation in Utah.

The St. George Spectrum: St. George starts Water Week 2010 – Water Week kicks off Saturday and the theme for 2010 is “Water Works.”  St. George and the Washington County Water Conservancy District have teamed up to provide several events and tours to celebrate the week and showcase some of the water works. All the events are free.

Technorati Tags: Bear Lake,Great Salt Lake,Jordan River,Water Conservation,Water Week

Water News Roundup – April 28, 2010

Current conditions:  SNOWING!!! Rrrrrr!

Salt Lake Tribune: Professor says law supports Great Salt Lake water allocation – Great Salt Lake needs a water allocation.  That will be the message presented at the 2010 Great Salt Lake Issues Forum today through Friday at the University of Utah, featuring several experts speaking at the Ft. Douglas Officer’s Club.

Deseret News: Construction underway for water conservation center – The district broke ground Tuesday on the WaterSmart Education Center — a $3.5 million, 9,400-square-foot building at the entrance of the Conservation Garden Park, 8215 S. 1300 West. The multi-use facility will act as home base for horticulturists, with classrooms, exhibits and a greenhouse.

Las Vegas Sun: Gov. waiting to see if state Supreme Court reconsiders ruling on water rights – Gov. Jim Gibbons is going to wait before deciding what action to take to see if the Nevada Supreme Court reconsiders a ruling involving pumping 40,000 acre feet of water from eastern Nevada to Las Vegas.

Technorati Tags: Great Salt Lake,water education center,water conservation,snake valley,SNWA

Water News Roundup – April 19, 2010

Salt Lake Tribune:

Reservoir expected to spur Kanab growth – The southern Utah town of Kanab, known for its red sandstone cliffs and mesas is getting a lake.  About 200 residents and dignitaries gathered Friday at a ranch house in the city’s outskirts and broke ground on an earthen dam that will create the Jackson Flat Reservoir.

Anglers prepare for new restrictions – New laws frequently create more questions than they answer. The Recreational Use of Public Water on Private Property law, more commonly known as HB141, is no different.

“There has been a lot of misinformation flying around. Some people think they can no longer fish streams on public land and that is just not true,” said Dean Mitchell, Outreach coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR).

The Spectrum: Conserving water – The Central Iron County Water Conservancy District is evaluating suggestions for water conservation made in a study by Montgomery, Watson and Harza, a consulting company that has been conducting studies on the Lake Powell Pipeline project.

KSL: Southern Nevada water director: comments weren’t meant personally – The director of the Southern Nevada Water Authority says her comments about Salt Lake City were not meant as an attack against the citizens of Utah.  Earlier this week, Pat Mulroy told television station KCVB in Las Vegas, “They can’t spell conservation in Salt Lake City.”

Deseret News: Bountiful arsenic finding spurs water study – Bountiful city officials are funding a groundwater study after tests of water from a well near a community landfill found increased levels of arsenic.

Technorati Tags: Arsenic,Bountiful City,CICWCD,Jackson Flat Reservoir,Kanab,Lake Powell Pipeline,Pat Mulroy,SNWA,Water Conservation

Water New Roundup – April 15, 2010

KSL:

Nevada water director criticizes Utah – The head of the Southern Nevada Water Authority took shots at Utah in a recent interview, ridiculing Salt Lake City and its high water usage.

(Wow!  Them’s fightin’ words Pat.  I can just see the reverse psychology here.  Pat, “You guys don’t know how to conserve!” Salt-Lakers, “Oh yeah??? Well watch THIS!”)

April storm clobbers northern Utah, raises snowpack – Thanks to a series of powerful storms, the first half of April blanketed much of the Wasatch mountain range with a fifth of its average annual snowfall.

Deseret News: Great weather for golf – (No story here, but the DN saw fit to take note that it is INDEED excellent weather for golfing… woohoo.)

Plus, The Golfing Index.

Technorati Tags: golf,Nevada,Pat Mulroy,Snake Valley,snowpack,spring,storms,Water Conservation,weather

Water News Roundup – April 12, 2010

Salt Lake Tribune:

Sides gear up for new water fight – Ranchers, county governments, conservation groups and the Goshute tribe are crafting protests against a Nevada water utility’s new applications to pump Snake Valley water to Las Vegas, a conservation group said.

Utah’s first N-plant won’t float without water rights – The former uranium boomtown of Green River sits along I-70 in eastern Utah, 100 miles from the closest city. Now it may become the Western outpost of America’s nascent nuclear renaissance. Blue Castle Holdings, a three-year-old, politically connected startup, wants to build a nuclear power plant there — Utah’s first, and the first in the West since 1987.

Salt Lake Tribune – Editorial: Wilderness bill – An act of Congress to set aside 26,000 additional acres of wilderness in the Wasatch Mountain canyons east of the Salt Lake Valley could benefit water users. It could also benefit its sponsor, Utah Rep. Jim Matheson, whose vote against health care legislation has made him unpopular with some Democratic voters in the 2nd Congressional District.

Las Vegas Sun: Las Vegas can’t handle another era of unimpeded growth – A report by the Sonoran Institute, an Arizona-based nonprofit think tank, says that if the Las Vegas Valley’s population grows to capacity using the Bureau of Land Management acreage designated for development, even the most stringent water conservation measures won’t be enough to ensure that everyone has enough H2O.

Technorati Tags: groundwater management,Nevada,nuclear power,Snake Valley,Water Conservation,water/energy nexus,watershed protection,wilderness designation

Water News Roundup – TGIT!

To celebrate the arrival of Thursday (the end of the week for we plebeian public servants), I’m posting vids instead of the news.

Via Thirsty in Suburbia, the latest water appreciation campaign out of Yorkshire, U.K. features two grannies, Edna and Mary, discussing the incredible value they receive for a pittance from their local water company.

Or how about this new one out of Austin, TX?  Keep in mind that Austin has a city-wide campaign to ‘Keep Austin Weird’!

Finally, another interesting one that is simply fascinating to watch.  It’s actually a bit of performance art by one Petr Spatina… NEAT!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Technorati Tags: videos,water videos,water conservation,stormwater quality,fun stuff