2016 Salt Lake County Watershed Symposium

A Decade of Working Together
In the Watershed Symposium inaugural keynote, Niermeyer will focus on the importance of continued collaboration to address the many different issues and interests of many stakeholders that are present in our watersheds, recognizing the value of the 10 years of history of the Salt Lake County Watershed Symposium in this collaboration.

Leaving the Past Behind: Water Supply Forecasting in the Great Basin
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Colorado Basin River Forecast Center (CBRFC) provides forecasts of water supply conditions to resource managers throughout the Eastern Great Basin regions using Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) methods that are largely driven by historical observations of temperature and precipitation. Currently, the CBRFC does not incorporate climatic information, such as teleconnections (e.g., the El Niño Southern Oscillation [ENSO]), into the development of its streamflow ensembles; further, as the impacts of climate change are realized, the past may no longer be representative of future conditions. To address these issues, the CBRFC is investigating the incorporation of a Stochastic Weather Generator (SWG) developed by the University of Colorado. Additionally, numerous agencies issue climate outlooks that describe the probability that a region with experience warmer, normal, or cooler conditions with regards to temperature and wetter, normal, or drier conditions with regards to precipitation. Research published by the University of Colorado has shown that a SWG weighted by probabilities related to the ENSO may improve forecast skill in the San Juan River Basin, as well as other regions outside of the Colorado River Basin. In this study, the SWG is applied within the Great Basin and weighted using climate probabilities developed by the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. The ensemble of streamflow events developed using the SWG is then compared to historical ensembles used in the forecast of water supply over the region.

Persistent Urban Impacts On Surface Water Quality in the Wasatch Front
Growing population centers along mountain watersheds put added stress on sensitive hydrologic systems and create water quality impacts downstream. We examined the mountain-to-urban transition in watersheds on Utah’s Wasatch Front to identify mechanisms by which urbanization impacts water resources. Rivers in the Wasatch flow from the mountains directly into an urban landscape, where they are subject to channelization, stormwater runoff systems, and urban inputs to water quality from sources such as road salt and fertilizer. As part of an interdisciplinary effort within the iUTAH project, multiple synoptic surveys were performed and a variety of measurements were made, including basic water chemistry along with discharge, water isotopes, and nutrients.

Red Butte Creek, a stream in Salt Lake City, does not show significant urban impact to water quality until several kilometers after it enters the city where concentrations of solutes such as chloride and nitrate more than triple in a gaining reach. Groundwater springs discharging to this gaining section demonstrate urban-impacted water chemistry, suggesting that during baseflow a contaminated alluvial aquifer significantly controls stream chemistry. By combining hydrometric and hydrochemical observations we were able to estimate that these groundwater springs were 17-20% urban runoff. We were then able to predict the chemistry of urban runoff that feeds into the alluvial aquifer. Samples collected from storm culverts, roofs, and asphalt during storms had chemistry values within the range of those predicted by the mixing model. This evidence that urbanization affects the water quality of baseflow through impacted groundwater suggests that stormwater mitigation may not be sufficient for protecting urban watersheds, and quantifying these persistent groundwater mediated impacts is necessary to evaluate the success of restoration efforts. By comparing these results from Red Butte Creek with similar studies from other rivers in the Wasatch Front and other alluvial systems, we can quantify how characteristics such as discharge patterns and land-use determine alluvial recharge controls on surface water quality.

Groundwater Development and Surface Water: Streamflow Depletion
Groundwater and surface-water resources are often connected. Much has been written about the effects of groundwater development on surface water, and new tools are available to simulate and quantify these effects. In this study, a numerical groundwater flow model was used to prepare capture maps to illustrate the connection between groundwater development and surface water. Capture maps show the amount of surface-water depletion caused by a well at any location in the model domain and can be used by water managers to assess the impacts of groundwater development. The first part of this presentation gives a brief synopsis of the source of water to wells and common misconceptions about surface-water depletion. The second part presents the development and analysis of capture maps for a basin dominated by surface-water features. Rather than analyzing depletion in only one river or spring, this work uses one set of capture simulations to determine the effects of groundwater development on 11 segments along two rivers, 30 springs, 13 areas of field drains, and 3 areas of evapotranspiration of groundwater. The presentation concludes with a discussion of the implications of the capture maps and suggestions on how this type of analysis can be used by water managers.

Water Quality Summary of the Jordan River Watershed
The Jordan River watershed is part of the Great Salt Lake Basin draining from Utah Lake and terminating at the Great Salt Lake 51 miles to the north. Major water uses in the area include municipal and industrial uses, agriculture, irrigation, and recreation. Much of the water in the watershed is diverted for consumptive uses supporting a population of over a million residents. Tributaries to the Jordan River from both the east and west are situated within a complex network of diversions, return flows, and stormwater discharges resulting in a variety of water quality concerns. This presentation will provide an overview of these water quality concerns along with ongoing remediation efforts, such as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and watershed plans, to restore their beneficial uses. While past management of the watershed focused on water development and flood control programs, future management will need to concentrate efforts on the continual need to develop and preserve high levels of water quality in the Jordan River watershed.

Do Microbes of the Jordan River, Utah, Yo-Yo Diet?
The Jordan River, a 58-mile, 4th order urban river traversing the Salt Lake Valley from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake, suffers from low dissolved oxygen, periods of high water temperature, and loading of organic matter and nutrients. Elevated temperature and abundant energy and nutrients stimulate microbial respiration, which consumes oxygen. We are studying microbial community response to potential variation in temperature and the supply of energy and nutrients at twelve locations along the river in order to better understand whether different management actions are appropriate at certain locations or timepoints. Variation in temperature and resource supply may occur as a result of discharge from from point sources (i.e., water reclamation facilities and tributaries) and seasonal change in hydrology or autotroph production. We are measuring water chemistry and quantifying elemental content ratios, stable isotope signatures, and fluorometry of organic matter from the water column and sediments to infer the source of organic matter and its quality. We also are assessing rates of microbial ecoenzyme expression associated with the acquisition of nutrients or carbon to infer whether microbial communities exhibit maximum rates of activity or if they are limited by energy or nutrients. We present preliminary study results summarized after two of our three sampling campaigns, planned for spring, mid-summer, and late fall of 2016. Our sampling efforts occurred before (late May) and during (early August) the harmful algal bloom (HAB) that afflicted the Jordan River this year.

Quantifying Interactions of Climate and Landscape on Water Resources
Growing populations and a changing climate are creating an uncertain future for water resources in the Western United States, including Salt Lake City and all of Utah. Planning for future population and climate conditions requires quantifying differential sensitivity of hydrologic partitioning to changes in climate. To address this challenge we ask: How do landscape characteristics influence the partitioning of precipitation into streamflow and plant available water along the Wasatch Front? And can historical observations of climate and streamflow provide inferences to the differential sensitivity of local watersheds to changes in climate?

The seven watersheds along the Wasatch Front (City Creek, Red Butte, Emigration, Parley’s, Millcreek, Big Cottonwood, and Little Cottonwood) provide an excellent research area to answer these questions. These watersheds are not only important to the Salt Lake area, providing over half of its water supply, but also have over 100 years of climate and streamflow response data to study the how the water balance is influenced by landscape. Additionally, there are many landscape differences between the watersheds: ranging in size from 19 km2 to 127 km2, in mean elevation from 1960 m to 2610 m, in mean slope steepness from 20° to 27°, in predominant slope aspect either north-facing or south-facing, in the type of soils present, and in the predominant bedrock geology.

Mean annual precipitation (790 mm to 1290 mm) and temperature (3.3°C to 6.9°C) vary primarily as a function of catchment elevation. Between 1900 and 2014 the average annual temperature across all watersheds has increased by 0.91°C, with most of the change occurring during the last fifty years. During the same time there has been no significant change in the amount of annual precipitation. Mean annual streamflow, normalized by catchment area, ranges from 150 mm to 820 mm with annual precipitation explaining between 43%-72% of the annual variability in streamflow. Surprisingly, the remaining variability is not correlated to annual or seasonal temperature even though the catchments have experienced notable warming. Instead, inter-annual variability in streamflow and water yield is significantly related to the rate of snow melt and the amount of subsurface storage in the watershed (derived from winter baseflow) in addition to the amount of annual precipitation. Specifically, higher antecedent baseflow and faster snowmelt both result in a preferential partitioning of precipitation to streamflow. This implies that the effects of a warming climate on the water resources of the seasonally snow dominated watersheds near Salt Lake City can be best understood through the context of the melting snowpack. Further, climate extremes, such as inter-annual drought, may leave a legacy effect on the subsurface storage in some watersheds, causing a delayed streamflow recovery in the years following the drought.

Water Losses in SLC During Warm, Dry Years!
Water is a critical resource for human development, economic well-being, and sustainability. Growing population and expanding agricultural activities have made water extraction for anthropogenic use a major flux in the hydrological cycle. In order to successfully meet the rising demands, water managers have resorted to over-exploitation of regional surface water resources, large scale inter-basin transfer, and extraction from subsurface aquifers making sustainable water management practices a major challenge, thus endangering water availability for our future generations.The severity of these effects, and the need to better understand connections between climate, water extraction, water use, and water use impacts, is strongest in areas of climatic aridity and substantial land-use change, such as the rapidly urbanizing areas of Utah. To understand these connections, we collected and analyzed stable isotopic ratios of more than 800 urban tap water samples in a series of semiannual water surveys (spring and fall, 2013 to 2015) across the Salt Lake Valley (SLV) of northern Utah. We observed strong and structured spatiotemporal variation in tap water isotopic compositions across the region which we attribute to complex distribution systems, varying water management practices and multiple sources used across the valley.

Isotopic mass balance indicated significant inter- and intra-annual variability in water losses within the distribution network due to evaporation from surface water resources supplying the SLV. Our calculation suggests that evaporative losses from the SLV water supply increased from 1 - 1.5% of the total water flux in 2013 to 4 - 6% in 2015. Using yearly water consumption data for the SLV obtained from the Utah Division of Water Rights, these values translate into > 4 million gallons of evaporative loss per day in 2015. This enhanced loss to the atmosphere would equate to $2.25 million of revenue loss in 2015 (calculated at current rates of $1.16 per unit within Salt Lake City; 1 unit = 748 gallons) if translated into reduced extractions, or significant ecological impacts if extraction remained unchanged.

Our isotopic assessment highlights aspects of the municipal water systems supplying the SLV that are germane to planning for and understanding these future water resource challenges. Our calculations show significant increase in evaporative losses within the system over the three-year sampling period, likely attributable to the atypically warm and dry weather that persisted throughout the study. Given that majority of municipal water used within the SLV is currently sourced from surface water and the proposed development of water resources to satisfy future demands associated with population growth focuses primarily on surface water systems of the Central Utah Project and Bear River, SLV communities are and will continue to have strong exposure to changes in evaporative losses from these systems.

You Can’t Play Soccer in a Perennial Bed!
Turfgrasses are unique plants in how they grow, how they are managed, what people expect of them, and especially how they are used in urban landscapes. Most people are not aware of their role, but turf is very important to the sustainability and quality of life in urban areas throughout the world. While often misunderstood, people come in contact with turfgrasses constantly, providing recreation and cultural benefits including improved physical and mental health. As living plant systems, turfgrasses are highly adaptable, do not require the inputs many people believe (especially water), and protect and build soils. Their role in urban areas in many ways is increasing in importance with heavier use and higher demands. In this presentation, we will discuss the unique roles that turfgrasses play in urban landscapes, that literally no other type of plant can deliver. We will also discuss the diversity of grasses that could be used, several misconceptions about their management, and summarize attributes that make them an important component of sustainable water-conserving landscapes.

Starts With a BBQ: Aligning Citizens with Utah Monitoring Needs
More than 20 of our most dedicated Utah Water Watch volunteers gathered this summer to share the story of why they monitor at the first annual volunteer get-together in Salt Lake City.

Now in its fifth year, Utah Water Watch -- Utah’s citizen water quality monitoring network – is expanding and adapting its programs, providing volunteers with moer advanced monitoring opportunities. We are finding new ways to support our existing network of over 100 volunteers while addressing Utah’s unique monitoring needs. In this session, we will show how our volunteers are working with watershed partners and scientists to improve the water quality and safety of Utah's rivers, lakes and streams. We have learned that volunteers want to know how their data is used, so forming these connections between volunteers and scientists is critical to the success of our program.

We will be discussing how improvements to the Tier 2 volunteer network and coordination with watershed partners can advance statewide water quality goals. Partners benefit from an extra hand in the field and volunteers learn about local water quality issues while assisting with implementation and monitoring of restoration projects.

We will also address our plan to expand lake monitoring, especially for harmful algal blooms and E. coli, to help keep Utah’s waters and swimming beaches safe. Volunteers monitor many of the swimming beaches and lakes in many rural areas that are often beyond the reach of state and local agencies. Utah Water Watch is working closely with the Utah Lakes and Reservoirs program as well as partners such as the State Parks in developing our protocol and network.

Jordan River Valley & Water Resources Status in the 2040s & 2090s
One of the major challenges faced by local municipal authorities and regulators in the US is developing a future implementation plan to protect water availability (i.e., water quantity and quality) and attain Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) considering uncertain future change drivers including climate change, land use changes, population growth and other water management practices.

In this presentation, we consider a case study of the Jordan River and its tributaries, a watershed which encompasses mountainous headwaters that supply water to a highly urbanized valley with irrigation canals, stormwater and treated wastewater return flows. We present our research findings in four areas by a group of multidisciplinary experts on: (a) Climate change and climate variability: what are the major climatic parameters that will have significant changes in their magnitude, and how will these changes in climate impact water resources in the Jordan valley? (b) Land use and land cover changes in Jordan valley: (i) how will land use and land cover change in the valley based on socio-economic drivers? (ii) How land use and land cover will change in the valley if we consider Wasatch Choice 2040 – the shared regional vision established by Wasatch Front communities? (c) Hydrological impact: (i) what will be the impact of the climate change and land use on water availability in creeks that are the major sources of water supply for the valley? (d) Water quality impact: (i) what will be the impact of future climate, land use changes and population growth on nutrient loading and dissolved oxygen levels in different sections of the Jordan River.

The results are based on our coupled modeling work: (i) dynamically downscaled regional climate model (Weather Research and Forecasting; WRF) output at 4-km horizontal resolution and hourly time step covering Utah State for 1985 to 2010, and in the decades of 2040s and 2090s; (ii) A probabilistic equilibrium land use model for 2040, and the regional land use vision embodied in in Wasatch Choice 2040; (iv) The HSPF model (Hydrologic Simulation Program-Fortran) - calibrated and validated based on the stream flow data available from 1993 to 2006, and simulated for decades 2040s and 2090s considering the future changes.

This body of research is an example of integrated and coupled modeling for watershed science in the face of variability, uncertainty and complexity. This holistic modeling approach and results will be helpful in analyzing water availability and water quality in Jordan River Valley for periods of time to the end of the current century, and will support development of rational watershed plans to protect vulnerable water resources.

Keywords: Climate change; land use change; watershed modeling; water availability; Total Maximum Daily Load.

What Really Inspires Stewardship? A Case Against Scare Tactics
Have you encountered someone who cares about the environment but thinks the issues are too big for them to do anything about? Recent research indicates that this type of attitude may stem from being exposed to serious environmental issues at a young age; for instance, a five year old learning an animal might die from entanglement in litter. Whether you consider yourself an educator or not, most of us interact with the public in various forums and have the opportunity to help curb this issue. In recent years a movement has developed that encourages educators to consider age appropriate messages and shy away from messages of fear, instead focusing on messages of positive behavior change. In this session we will present David Sobel’s idea of “ecophobia” and how it informs Tracy Aviary’s education programs. We will discuss appropriate topics for different age groups and ask audience members to share ideas for how this concept might affect their work or programming.

Dedicated poster session where presenters will be on hand to answer questions and discuss their posters. Poster abstracts are available in the event program.

Diverse Perspectives on Water from the Salt Lake Watershed
Utah is experiencing rapid growth and socio-economic change. When you couple this growth with the fact that Utah is the second driest state in the nation, it is clear that there are a number of critical water resource challenges facing the state. As Utah’s major metropolitan area, the Salt Lake Watershed faces these salient water challenges, and better understanding of diverse perspectives on water issues is integral to effective water governance in coming years. This presentation draws on findings from multiple research efforts conducted by the iUTAH water project to ascertain the level of alignment among water related perspectives across different communities, groups, and vantage points. The iUTAH (innovative Urban Transitions and Aridregion Hydro-sustainability) Project is a federally funded effort designed to build capacity to understand Utah’s mountain-metro water system and provide key information to decision makers.

iUTAH social science research prioritizes the assessment of diverse perspectives on water. Interviews conducted with both professional and public stakeholders illuminate an array of water attitudes and experiences. While there is some common ground, this assessment highlights disconnections that may make setting and implementing local water priorities challenging. A more scientific-oriented discourse was found among professionals who portrayed more complex understanding of water systems. The more abstract discussions of water among public stakeholders who drew upon more personal experiences and observations reveal that public priorities do not always align with the same level of specificity as those articulated by local leaders and resource managers. These findings on how various stakeholders articulate water related issues are key to understanding collaborative potential within and across the Salt Lake Watershed. Concerns about water supply and infrastructure in light of growing populations and climate change, varying local experiences with water quality incidents and flooding hazards, and maintaining highly-valued water recreation opportunities are all part of water-related discourse across the Salt Lake Watershed.

Environmental Dashboard: Tracking the Health of the Wasatch
The Environmental Dashboard will be a tool for the public and decision makers to track the environmental health of the Central Wasatch and evaluate impacts in future planning discussions. It is the intention of the Mountain Accord that the Dashboard is a legacy project and will be updated on a regular basis. It will be scientifically based, data rich, and technically credible. Step I of the Dashboard is in progress and will compile data currently collected throughout the Central Wasatch Mountains in a way that provides a picture of the complete health of the mountain range, as well as a mechanism for measuring the health moving forward. Step II of the Dashboard will include an online connection for people interested in tracking the progress of key indicators.

This presentation gives an overview of the development of the Dashboard and where we are today.

Provo River Delta Restoration: Suckers, Rollerblading, and More!
Although the Provo River is not located within Salt Lake County, it serves as a major drinking water source for Salt Lake County residents. It is also the largest tributary to Utah Lake, which feeds Salt Lake County’s largest river. Since European settlement in the 1800’s, both Utah Lake and the Provo River have been affected by water development and river management projects involving the construction of dams, water diversions, pipelines, dikes, and pumping systems. These alterations to the river and lake ecosystem have impacted the endangered June sucker (Chasmistes liorus) which occurs naturally only in Utah Lake and spawns primarily in Provo River.

As recent water development projects have been planned and constructed, commitments have been made to aid in the recovery of the June sucker. The Provo River Delta Restoration Project (PRDRP) will address several of these commitments by restoring a more natural delta ecosystem essential for a healthy June sucker population. Currently, June sucker recruitment is severely limited in part because of degraded rearing habitat. The PRDRP will redirect the lower 1.5 miles of the lower Provo River channel into a restored delta while still preserving the existing lower river channel as a recreational amenity. The delta restoration will remove artificial levees, re-connect the river and lake with adjacent wetlands, restore natural fluvial processes and ecological conditions, and re-establish and reconnect habitats. Restored rearing habitat will support juvenile June sucker until they are capable of surviving in the larger open water environment of Utah Lake.

Another major component of the PRDRP will be to enhance and expand recreation opportunities in the area. Currently, the Provo River Parkway Trail along the lower existing river channel receives heavy recreational use for activities including fishing, rollerblading, jogging, and biking. The PRDRP includes commitments to preserve and enhance the recreation experience along the existing lower river channel by providing minimum instream flows and installing an aeration system to improve water quality. The PRDRP will also develop new trailheads, viewing towers, and additional trails around the restored delta area. These recreation features are being designed in close coordination with numerous stakeholders including Utah County, Provo City, and Utah Lake State Park.

The PRDRP is a joint effort of the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program, the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, the U.S. Department of Interior's Central Utah Project Completion Act Office, and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. A Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision were published for the project in April and May of 2015, respectively. Currently, property for the project is in the process of being acquired and detailed designs for the delta area and various recreation features are being developed. Project construction is anticipated to begin in 2018.

This presentation will familiarize listeners with the PRDRP, highlight the watershed connections between Provo River and Salt Lake County, and provide insights into the complexities and groundwork involved in implementing large-scale restoration projects.

Water is for Fighting! Water Right Adjudications in Salt Lake Valley
As competing demands over water resources within the Salt Lake Valley continue to grow, the urgency for clarity and certainty in the realm of water rights likewise becomes more critical. Having evolved over time--commensurate with the history of Utah--present-day water rights take many shapes and forms. Consequently, questions of supplemental relationships, pre-statutory rights, forfeiture, and Federal Reserve rights often cloud the overall water rights picture. The General Adjudication process addresses these issues utilizing a unique combination of historical research, "boots-on-the-ground" investigations, and legal proceedings--ultimately providing the public with a clear delineation of the water rights within the Utah Lake and Jordan River watershed.

Mirage in the Desert: Data Centers, Water Use, & Growth
Data centers have a history of generating controversy in Utah, particularly in regard to the water and tax benefits that sustain them. In 2014, the Utah Legislature threatened to cut off the NSA Utah Data Center’s water supply after public records revealed the data center is using more water than its host town of Bluffdale. This year, after weeks of secrecy over its location, the proposed Facebook data center is slated for West Jordan City where it will enjoy millions of dollars in tax breaks and rely on millions of gallons of water per day.

These actions provoke a series of questions this workshop will explore including: Given drought and the high water usage of these data centers, what is the current state of water scarcity in Utah in regard to supply and usage? Do tax policies enable and/or increase their high water consumption? What impacts to our watersheds do these data centers and the practices that sustain them have? We will also examine exactly how much water these data centers use compared to other municipal and agricultural water uses.

Revealing Intrinsics of Nitrogen Transformation in Green Infrastructure
Unmitigated rainfall runoff from the impervious surfaces common to urban infrastructure can lead to many environmental problems. Water quality of the surface runoff is degraded because of deposition of various types of pollutants. This load-magnified stormwater discharge does not meet the required discharge quality standards because high levels of nutrients may result in eutrophication or algal blooms. Eutrophication will lead to excessive plant growth thus lowering water-column oxygen levels. Excess levels of nutrients or build-up of toxins may stimulate growth of algal blooms in receiving waterbodies and thereby killing aquatic biota.

Bioretention basins, as stormwater control measures, take advantage of natural environmental processes through incorporation of vegetation and different types of soil media resembling a natural ecosystem. The different layers of soils present in bioretention basins provide an environment favorable for the growth of various microorganisms which help in degrading filtered pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus. Unfortunately, research has shown that nitrous oxide (N2O) gas which is a potent greenhouse gas is a byproduct of nitrogen removal in soil in both nitrification and denitrification processes. However, very limited research has been done in the direction of understanding the role and abundance of microbial communities involved in the process of nitrogen transformations，and contributes to the release of N2O into the atmosphere from bioretention basins.

During the study, samples were collected from existing bioretention basins located near the University of Utah Campus. Core samples of soil, and composite effluent and influent stormwater samples were collected from the basins and then transported on ice to the laboratory and subsequently analyzed. The results suggest that the quantitative abundance amoA, atypical NosZ, NirK, and NirS gene in all soil samples collected from the bioretention basins during winter are ranging from 1.7×10^6 to 1.7×10^7copies/gm-soil, 1.2×10^6 to 3.1×10^7copies/g-soil, 2.7×10^6 to 3.9×10^8copies/gm-soil, and 3.4×10^7 to 7.4×10^8copies/gm-soil, respectively. Furthermore, results showed lower amoA, NirS and NosZ gene abundance and no amplification of NirK gene in control basin soil samples.
Methods for analyzing phosphorus removal efficiency are being developed. Potential links between emissions of greenhouses gas like N2O and seasonal distribution of microbial communities in bioretention basins with different plant communities are also being observed. Results indicate the presence of AOB strains, Nitrosospira sp. 40KI and Nitrosospira sp. NpAV which have the ability to produce N2O during a nitrifier denitrification process. Moreover, analysis of both winter and summer stormwater samples showed higher concentrations of nitrate in effluent than influent. Further analysis on summer samples and N2Oemissions from each basin are in progress.

The purpose of this research is to comprehend the mechanisms involved in biological nitrogen removal, to explore the contribution of various pathways in N2Oemissions, and understanding microbial ecology for developing a better design of bioretention basin in future which will result in reduced emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Join us for the Utah debut of Return of the River, followed by Q&A with director Jessica Plumb! Return of the River chronicles the largest dam removal project in the history of the United States, and the extraordinary effort to restore an ecosystem and set a river free.

Co-hosting thie evening community event is part of an expanded program in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Watershed Symposium! We've partnered with the Utah Film Center to co-host one of their Tuesday night screenings at The City Library.

Admission is free.
Seating is first-come first-served.
Visit the Utah Film Center screening calendar for more info.


The film screening is funded in part by the JRC Large Grants Program, which is administered by the Jordan River Commission and the Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands.

The Power of Possibility: Birth of a Movement, Rebirth of our Waterways
In this inspirational speech, Yaggi shares a moving story about birth and rebirth, the power of citizen action, and the power of possibility, with a roadmap of how citizens can seize and control the destiny of their communities and waterways around the world. This speech spans from the 1800s to present day in order to paint a picture of our past and foretell a future where engaged citizenry can and must protect their home for future generations.

Beyond the Ivory Tower: University-Stakeholder Partnerships for Utah's Water Future
This panel, composed of representatives from academia and their non-academic partners, will highlight successful university-stakeholder partnerships covering a range of research, education, and outreach efforts on vital water issues in our state.  Using the iUTAH project as an example, panelists will share lessons learned from their successes and failures at bridging the divide between academia and "the real world;" discuss the challenges and rewards of combining practical on-the-ground knowledge, professional expertise, and diverse stakeholder perspectives with basic and applied institutional research; and explore opportunities for new partnerships to advance societally relevant "Science for Utah's Water Future."

An Integrated Water Resource Management Model for the Great Salt Lake Watershed – Part 2
Is Great Salt Lake drying up? How might forecasted population and economic growth in Northern Utah change water levels in the lake? How might an extended drought affect the lake? What does that mean to Great Salt Lake’s natural resources, the economic and ecological benefits that are derived from them, and the people who live near its shores? These are all questions the State of Utah has been grappling with that this project hopes to help begin to answer.

A recurring challenge for State regulatory and resource agencies is defining and understanding how variable precipitation and water management in Great Salt Lake’s watershed can influence the lake’s water levels and salinity and subsequently the resources the lake supports. State agencies have not had an effective tool at their disposal that integrates available information to better understand these issues and support sustainable management of Great Salt Lake resources – until now.

At last year’s Symposium, we discussed the need and objectives for an integrated water resources management model. Since then, the project team has been hard at work developing the model and is nearing completion. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the model objectives but will focus upon how the model was developed and will be used. The model should be ready for use by early 2017.

This model will allow State agencies to understand the lake’s drivers of change, understand the potential changes and risks Great Salt Lake and its resources may encounter, incorporate these findings into planning efforts, and sustainably manage the lake’s economic and ecological resources

Who Pulled the Plug on Utah Lake: An Ecological Primer
Utah Lake was perhaps the most ecologically diverse, productive, and awe inspiring lake in the western USA, prior to Mormon settlement in the late 1800’s. Bonneville cutthroat trout and twelve other fish species thrived by the millions. More species of freshwater mollusks called Utah Lake home than anywhere in western North America. Birds, wildlife, and Native Americans thrived. By most accounts, without the incredible bounty that Utah Lake provided, the recently established LDS community likely would have perished. All this abruptly changed at the hands of progress and Utah Lake underwent what is known as a ‘catastrophic ecosystem shift’. Although Utah Lake continues to be highly productive and is sanctuary for thousands of birds; its native fauna has all but disappeared and its waters are now primarily comprised of taxa such as cyanobacteria, algae, zooplankton, worms, midges, and carp. Urbanization is rampant along the shores of Utah Lake, its tributaries run dry for most of the year, and there is no longer a natural connection between Utah Lake and the Jordan River downstream. Utah Lake will never return to what it once was and its time is running out. Utah Lake’s fate is now being decided by political forces that may or may not have its best interests in mind. Citizens need to have a basic understanding of Utah Lake’s incredible ecology and the ecosystem services it provides free of charge to help make informed decisions and to provide guidance to their elected officials and water managers. This presentation will give a brief history of Utah Lake and then focus on its present ecology and food web dynamics including the misunderstood and vastly underappreciated role of mollusks, midges, plankton, and worms.

The Great Salt Lake: Water Not Wasted
This presentation covers a variety of important issues surrounding Great Salt Lake and the water that feeds it. It covers the purpose of the Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program (GSLEP) and demonstrates how we accomplish managing and conserving the avian and aquatic communities of Great Salt Lake. Participants in this talk can expect to learn about the brine shrimp harvest industry and how it is managed by GSLEP. They will learn about the life history of brine shrimp and why they are so important. Participants will also learn about how the millions of birds, people that use the lake for recreation, industries and quality of life in the Salt Lake valley will be affected by lowering lake levels. They will learn about the watershed and why it is very important to continue to allow water to reach Great Salt Lake.

Utah Lake Water Quality Study
The Division of Water Quality is conducting a two-phased water quality study on Utah Lake to determine the role of excess nutrients on impairments to the aquatic life and recreational beneficial uses and to determine appropriate nutrient endpoints. An initial water quality investigation was completed in 2007 and subsequently put on hold to evaluation the relationship between in-lake water quality and ongoing ecological management strategies. This presentation will provide an overview of the project, progress to date, overview of ongoing research, and a discussion of the next steps.

DWQ initiated Phase 1 of the Utah Lake study in 2015 in response to nutrient related impairments identified in DWQ’s Integrated Report and in response to harmful algal bloom events on Utah Lake in recent years. Phase 1 of the study consists of four work elements led by DWQ staff and representative stakeholder subcommittees. Phase 1 work elements include: 1) Stakeholder Outreach and Public Involvement; 2) Data and Information Management; 3) Beneficial Use Assessment; 4) Bulk Load Analysis; and 5) Model Selection and Development.

DWQ anticipates completing the majority of the Phase 1 work elements in 2016 and launching a Phase 2 study to identify appropriate nutrient management scenarios. Phase 2 will further investigate water quality conditions in Utah Lake and will result in one of three alternatives: 1) Total Maximum Daily Load; 2) Site Specific Nutrient Criteria; or 3) Use Attainability Analysis.

The water quality model developed in Phase 1 will serve as the primary tool to evaluate the water quality and ecological responses expected from a reduction of nutrient inputs and the carp removal effort. This will require additional research to better understanding of the unique biological, physical, and chemical interactions in the Utah Lake system. DWQ and stakeholders will continue to work collaboratively throughout this study to develop scientifically defensible recommendation for meeting Utah Lake beneficial uses.

Anthropogenic Impacts on the Utah Lake Ecosystem Using GIS Spatial Analysis
Utah Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the United States west of the Mississippi River. Utah Lake and its surrounding wetlands are critical for fish and wildlife resources, flood mitigation, and recreation. However, the ecosystem is under increasing stress due to urban, industrial, and agricultural runoff from an expanding population that now exceeds 500,000 people in Utah Valley. Different types of land use, such as animal farming, mining, and agricultural activities, have impacted Utah Lake water quality significantly. In this project, I propose to use historical images of the Utah Lake ecosystem and available water quality data for Utah Lake to access how land use has changed over time, how these human related activities have affected water quality, and track various pollution sources to Utah Lake. The historical images sourced from Google Earth, Landsat imagery and high resolution LiDAR data will be used to evaluate the land use change around Utah Lake using GIS (Geographic Information System) spatial analysis techniques. In addition, water quality data from previous research projects I was involved in will be used in the mapping process to track water pollution sources to Utah Lake over time. Upon completion of this project, I will be able to:
1. Map how land use and population have changed around Utah Lake since pioneer settlement
2. Spatially assess the pollution sources to Utah Lake
3. Suggest how to change and manage the current land use around Utah Lake in order to protect Utah Lake water quality
This project will provide useful maps and visualizations of spatial information of human impacts on the Utah Lake ecosystem. Utah faces a future that includes population growth and climate change, both of which potentially influence the region’s hydrologic system and therefore can affect water availability and quality necessary for human consumption and use. This project will help us to understand how anthropogenic activities have impacted the Utah Lake ecosystem visually, and provide insights for state agencies to implement meaningful water and land-use management plans in the region.

Great Salt Lake, Who Lives Here?
In the 2012 Great Salt Lake Water Quality Strategy, the Utah Division of Water Quality proposed a road map for continued protection of the Lake’s water quality. One of the specific goals of the Strategy is the development of numeric criteria, or maximum allowable pollutant concentrations. The first step to develop numeric criteria is to know the specific organisms that comprise the ecosystem to be protected. To help meet this goal, an aquatic life use workshop for Great Salt Lake was held in March, 2015. Scientists who study the Lake were invited to share their data regarding aquatic life surveys on the Lake and that was compiled along with the available data from the published literature. In addition to the specific species data, collocated salinity data was also recorded. Several key data gaps were identified including experimental data regarding salinity tolerances, benthic macroinvertebrates (aka, sediment bugs), and fish populations. The presentation will summarize the results and key data gaps identified. The report and database are available at http://www.deq.utah.gov/locations/G/greatsaltlake/gslwaterquality/index.htm .

Considering the 3rd Pillar of Water Demand & Conservation: Economics
News headlines often echo predictions that Utah is running out of water because our population is growing so quickly. Utah water suppliers say there is $32 billion needed for water infrastructure repair and replacement for Utah’s growing population amid an aging water delivery system in need of repair. State and local governments are investing in numerous proposed water projects, at times generating significant controversy.

But who will pay for these water investments and what, if any, impacts will there be to our water rates? In this workshop, we explore a partnership between a Utah nonprofit organization and a community of academic PhD economists who prepared an economic analysis focusing on the expected water rate increases which would accrue from the largest proposed diversion of the Colorado River: the Lake Powell Pipeline. The workshop examines basic concepts of commodity supply and demand, the elasticity of water rate price upon future water demand and how this information is being used by the public, water suppliers and the State of Utah. We also explore why the economics of water use are so often ignored in water policy and water conservation discussions.

Utah Lake Eutrophication: Role of Sediment-Water Column Interactions
Utah Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States in terms of surface area with a maximum length and width of 24 and 13 miles, and has a surface area of roughly 375 km2 (145 square miles). It is a shallow lake with an average depth of approximately 9-10 feet during normal reservoir operating conditions with a storage capacity of 902,400 acre feet (Psomas & SWCA, 2007). The lake is managed as a reservoir to have a minimum surface elevation of 4,489 feet above sea level to maintain a consistent shoreline.

Utah Lake is considered hypereutrophic in terms of trophic status and experiences extreme algal blooms in the late summer and fall throughout the lake (Psomas & SWCA, 2007). Low dissolved oxygen, or anoxic, events have not been observed in Utah Lake and this is attributed to the shallow lake being well mixed and wind induced reaeration. There is an increasing concern about the role of nutrients, especially phosphorus, in contributing to Utah Lake water quality. This has led to a lots of debate about sources and sinks of phosphorus in Utah Lake among the local community. Phosphorus is a tricky nutrient whose fate is primarily pH dependent. In this EPA and UDWQ funded research, we closely looked at P in the sediments and looked at its speciation, sediment minerology and potential of release under changed DO and pH conditions.

More recently, we have collected five more sediment cores from the Utah Lake and are in the process of evaluating parameters which will be useful for Utah Lake modeling efforts let by the University of Utah and Utah DWQ. Water column samples collected show the correlation between nutrients, chlorophyll a, and cyanotoxin with water quality and lake bottom sediments. Majority of phosphorus in Utah Lake sediments is calcite bound which can only be immobilized under low pH conditions. We also developed an in-house toxin measurement method based on high performance liquid chromatography. The samples collected and analyzed did not show toxin concentrations above world health organization’s prescribed limits. The sediments were a source of dissolved N and P while the water column was a sink, and once again this was associated with plankton bioassimilation. The sediments in Utah Lake proper were similar in terms of %TS and roughly 37% of the VS were organic carbon, and are composed primarily of carbonate and clay minerals which are easily resuspended. The high carbonate content, elevated ambient pH, and alkalinity provide a pathway for abiotic P precipitation. In-situ sediment oxygen demand measurements revealed that the Utah Lake water column is responsible for the majority of the ambient oxygen demand, not SOD, and was associated with phytoplankton respiration and decay.

"Watershed Steward of the Year" Award Ceremony & Prize Drawing
All Symposium participants are encouraged to nominate a 2016 Watershed Steward of the Year. Everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing to win awesome prizes. Woohoo!

This award is given to an individual who is nominated by peers in the community to be recognized and celebrated as a watershed hero! This individual should qualify as someone who successfully helps to restore and improve our rivers and watershed, someone who consistently works to sustain the health of our rivers and someone we think about while drinking, kayaking, fishing and enjoying our waters. 

The award ceremony and drawing will be held during lunch. 

The Watershed Steward of the Year award is new to the Symposium and we hope to continue this environmentally emblematic recognition in the years to come. 

Identifying Contributing Factors to Utah Lake Algal Blooms
This past summer saw one of the largest toxic algae blooms in the region’s recent history spread from Utah Lake and along the entire stretch of the Jordan River. The large amount of biomass and presence of toxins affected local recreation, and several communities who were forced to shut off their secondary water supply which comes from the Jordan River. The magnitude and extent of the bloom led to widespread concern and raised a number of questions including: What caused the bloom? Were there any warning signs? Which areas were affected the most? What were conditions like throughout the water system?
In order to address these questions and better understand what happened with this and other blooms in the region, we calibrate several lake-specific models using historical data for chlorophyll-a (an indicator of algal biomass) and satellite-measured reflected radiance from the surface of the lake, and apply the models to the Utah Lake and Great Salt Lake region. We then identify regions of the system which have been historically particularly susceptible to blooms through classification and geospatial statistical techniques. A number of climate factors (including air temperature, wind speed and direction, and precipitation) and lake characteristics, such as lake levels and nutrients are evaluated to determine whether these factors may have contributed to the large algal bloom of July 2016, as well as past blooms. This application of remote sensing provides valuable opportunities for enhanced visualization and knowledge of the magnitude and extent of blooms in the region. Additionally, an improved understanding of the conditions/factors which cause algal blooms and the locations which are likely to be affected in the future may benefit water quality monitoring and management agencies in the area.

The Business of Water: Lessons from Coca-Cola Watershed Replenishment
At Swire Coca-Cola USA, we have seen the sense in conserving natural resources since the very beginning of our business journey. We have a vested business interest in protecting the water resources in the communities in which we operate; where we produce refreshing Coca-Cola products is where we also distribute and sell them. In order to maintain the most important material for our business—water—we have to work hard to protect natural water sources.

One of our major initiatives toward protecting the water resources around us is called the Replenish project. In collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company, we work to implement conservation projects that restore the water supplies of natural water bodies like rivers and wetlands. In 2007, The Coca-Cola Company and all of its bottling partners, including ourselves, set the goal of returning 100% of the water that goes into our finished products back to nature and communities. By the end of 2015, the Coca-Cola system achieved 100% replenishment globally.

In Utah, we have worked in the Chalk Creek watershed to improve stream flows by implementing conservation irrigation for a local rancher and by removing a fish migration barrier. Secondly, we work with The Nature Conservancy at Jesse Creek in Idaho to restore a dry section of the stream. Our manufacturing plant in Fruitland, Idaho sources its water from the Jesse Creek watershed. We are also evaluating a third project in the upper Bear River watershed in Wyoming. This project would restore the habitats and passage for local trout by replenishing an estimate of billions of liters to nature.

In partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, we’ve learned that there are several necessary steps to implementing a successful replenishment project. The first step is to map the water. Coca-Cola does this by completing source water vulnerability assessments for our business operating areas. We have completed Source Water Vulnerability Assessments for each of our manufacturing facilities, utilizing the expert knowledge of third-party hydrogeologists. Following these vulnerability assessments, we have also developed Source Water Protection Plans, which work to protect the watersheds in our operating areas. We operate in the western U.S., from Portland to Denver to Phoenix. Our goal is to protect watersheds throughout these areas, some of which have limited water availability.

The second lesson that Swire Coca-Cola has learned from Replenish projects is the value of partnerships. We partner with environmental nonprofits, customers such as universities, and other members of the Coca-Cola system. Swire Coca-Cola has partnered with Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and Coca-Cola North America on three restoration projects in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Thirdly, to build on the importance of partnership, we have found that active collaboration and engagement in these programs is vital to the success of watershed restoration projects. Collaboration with our partners has allowed us to identify suitable Replenish sites and to successfully implement restoration projects. The Replenish projects at Jesse Creek and Chalk Creek return 275 million liters of water to nature annually.

Phased Reclamation at the Jordan River, Midvale Utah
Jordan River riparian restoration was conducted as part of the final remedy for the Midvale Slag Superfund Site. Phase I of the riparian restoration called for the replacement of a damaged and dangerous sheet pile dam that was built to maintain river bank stability for the portion of the Jordan River running adjacent to the Site. The dam reduces bank erosion and prevents the release of buried contaminants into the river and other adjacent properties. A river energy/flow survey of was conducted to develop a two-dimensional model to evaluate the hydraulic characteristics of the river at different stream flows. The model allowed EPA to determine where the highest velocities occurred and indicated areas susceptible to erosion and/or migration of stream flows out of the current channel. The model also provided water-surface elevations throughout the reach for various streamflow’s and aided in planning where increased cross sectional areas were needed and where to install velocity abatement structures. Information obtained from the model was used to curb the effects of erosion and strengthen the stability of the cap for the Midvale Site. In addition, two doctorate summer interns were hired to conduct detailed soil and weed studies for information used for planning future phased work.

Phase 2 of the riparian effort included replacing debris/weeded areas with native plants, and some armoring. This Phase included outreach to the community on a variety of projects including education, building bridge abutments for future pedestrian bridges to be built by the city and developers, weed mitigation, pedestrian trail expansion, and improved river access for recreational use. Additionally, Phase 2 included opening up the river up-stream to slow the flow to reduce potential damage downstream. Phases 4 and 5 were a continuance of earlier phases making adjustments.

The reclamation portion of the Superfund work was conducted using Veteran Owned Small Business and Minority Owned Small Business as well as task specific grants to Salt Lake County and the USGS. In short, the work conducted was cost effective using mostly local resources.

Spatiotemporal Variability of Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms
Cyanobacteria cause a multitude of water-quality concerns, including potential production of taste-and-odor compounds and toxins. Taste-and-odor compounds cause malodorous or unpalatable drinking water and fish, resulting in increased treatment costs and loss of aquacultural and recreational revenue. Cyanotoxins have been implicated in human and animal illness and death in over fifty countries worldwide, including at least 36 U.S. States. The study of cyanobacteria and associated compounds presents several unique challenges. For example, 1) complex mixtures of cyanotoxins and taste-and-odor compounds are common in mixed-assemblage cyanobacterial blooms, 2) spatiotemporal variability is characteristic of blooms, and occurrence of cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, and taste-and-odor compounds may vary substantially within relatively short distances and periods of time, and 3) relations between spatiotemporal dynamics and environmental conditions are unique to individual systems and are the complex result of the interactions between biological, physicochemical, and hydrologic factors. In the face of these challenges, continuous-water-quality monitors, remote sensing, genetic techniques, and in situ field experiments have supplemented traditional limnological studies. These new approaches have facilitated the development of tools to provide early warning systems for occurrence that guide management and public health decisions.

Cyanotoxins and Cell counts: Managing Risk When Cyanobacteria Bloom
The recent cyanobacteria bloom on Utah Lake and the accompanying never-ending DWQ and media blitzkrieg has done an effective job in razing public interest and even hysteria in the occurrence of these blooms. This activity has brought out the best and worst of mobilizing agency response and the actual actions that were taken. Lake-side businesses were closed in addition to the hit on ancillary recreational outlets that normally accompanies a summer on Utah Lake. Moreover, these actions stymied our farmers ability to raise valuable local crops and may ultimately affect the farmers' ability to market their goods as the nightly news prattled on and lake closure continued day after day. This Aphanizomenon bloom provides a great example why a more thoughtful, scientific and measured approach to managing human risk is warranted.

The Jordan River…Size Matters
The Jordan River has changed in size, shape and function over the past century. In that same time span, the river's ability to convey water, sediment and process pollutants has also changed. Is there a significant nexus between the morphological divergence and the river's water quality degradation? This presentation will explore the possible nexus and a pilot program to test this hypothesis and implement the Jordan River TMDL. 

Birds Provide Insight for Stewardship of Urban Riparian Areas
Our riparian areas are important and complex components of Salt Lake County’s urban mosaic, and they provide benefits to both human and animal inhabitants. Multiple streams, creeks, and the Jordan River supply resources, ecosystem services, recreational opportunities, and access to natural spaces for Salt Lake County residents, and these waterbodies also yield critical habitat for our urban bird communities. However, urban riparian areas are heavily impacted by diverse human uses and historic disturbances, which create complex consequences to river and stream health. Since 2011, Tracy Aviary’s citizen science program has developed and implemented a series of participatory bird monitoring projects in urban riparian areas throughout the Salt Lake County Watershed. Our projects include diverse objective, partners, stakeholders, and geographic locations, but they all investigate avian use of urban riparian habitat. Patterns of bird occurrence, distribution, and community composition can serve as important indicators of watershed quality and overall ecosystem health, and data we have collected over the years have increased our understanding of local avian ecology, best management practices, and how to balance competing objectives for our region’s riparian areas.

Land Use Changes and Implications for Forest Service Management
The presentation would show examples of changes in land use using historic aerial photos of Alta/Snowbird, mouth of Little Cottonwood, and perhaps the Draper area. It would show the transition from a rural to urban interface between Forest Service and non-Forest lands and how this affects the way we manage Forest lands.

Landscape Lab: Merging Science & Design for a Landscape of Learning
Many so-called sustainable solutions to the challenges of urban systems rely on across-the-board application of a set of “best practices” which are often developed elsewhere and may or may not have been rigorously tested or monitored. Such best practices are probably an improvement over the alternative conventional practices, in that they probably do less ecological damage, however we believe there is a better way to engage in landscape and urban design that tests best practices in situ, and offers the opportunity to innovate and generate knowledge, shortening the time lag between research and application. We present a landscape transformation project, the Landscape Lab, on the University of Utah research campus on Red Butte Creek, that has been developed as a collaborative design project between university research faculty and landscape architects. The goal of this merging of scientific and design processes is to create a landscape that is beautiful and engaging, ecologically revitalized, and that serves to build our pool of understanding about ecological restoration and water management in urban landscapes in our unique climate of northern Utah. We will discuss the unique challenges of this merged process, and the considerable potential it holds for changing the way we shape our built environment.

Participants will learn about some of the primary challenges and barriers to creating sustainable urban landscapes in Utah, and opportunities to overcome these by forging new partnerships between different disciplines.

Retrofitting Urban Streets to Green Streets: Lessons Learned
Stormwater planter boxes and biofiltration systems are a sustainable stormwater Best Management Practice option for use in "Green Street" retrofit applications and roadway improvements projects. Applying stormwater flow-through planter boxes that are designed to capture and remove stormwater runoff pollutants conveyed in public streets poses a difficult challenge for many Green Street project designers, landscape architects and civil engineers.

Conventional design regimens for stormwater planter box systems typically require large areas of space along sidewalks and curb areas so as to properly convey a design volume of runoff for capture and infiltration inside flow-through biofiltration systems in the public right-of-way. In high-density areas, there are typically little or no opportunities to place stormwater planter box systems along roadways or sidewalks due to existing infrastructure and underground utilities.

This presentation provides civil engineers, planners, landscape architects, designers, and project developers with various alternative space-saving solutions to applying smaller, more compact “Green Street” flow-through planter boxes and Tree Box Filters where and when available space is limited in a public roadway or street.

Specific project examples using space-saving stormwater planter box systems will be provided along with detailed information on the proper design, components, installation and costs for applying stormwater planter box systems.

Attendees will learn the difference between planter box system types, design and performance criteria as well as limitations for use in public right-of-way retrofit applications. Attendees will walk away with practical guidelines for evaluating candidate sites in conjunction with identifying various choices of planter box types that may or may not be applicable for a particular Green Street retrofit location.

Example stormwater planter box projects will be showcased in this presentation with reference to high-density locations at major cities in the USA, including projects located in cities of Portland (OR), Los Angeles, San Diego, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and the San Francisco Bay Area.