Issue Overview

The purpose of this section is to provide information and boilerplate language that will help to provide a basic understanding of the issue by factually describing the issue, its scope, and dimensions.

Watershed management can affect water resources in several ways. The quantity, quality, and timing of runoff from watersheds are influenced by the condition of the watershed. Good vegetative cover holds-back the runoff controlling flooding and erosion and allows for deep percolation of the water. This percolation can improve the timing of the runoff making it available later as base flow in the stream. Residential and commercial development, agricultural practices, resource and vegetative management may affect the quality and timing of runoff. Other factors such as dams and flow control structures can affect streamflow.

Options & Trade-Offs

Some of the questions that may be discussed or researched could be:

• Are there active watershed groups that could assist in decisions to be made regarding local watersheds?
• How would proposed changes in the local river system operations impact flows in the river?
• Has the ground cover in the watershed changed over time?
• Has there been a change in water quantity/quality over time?
• Can cloud seeding improve snow pack, reservoir levels, soil moisture and increase the water yield for the local watersheds?
• Are there local studies that better define the local flood potential?

Potential for Conflict

At the heart of conflicts in local watersheds is land use and ownership. There are many possible uses of land within a watershed ranging from untouched habitat to agriculture to mining to urban and industrial. Much public input is needed when attempting to balance these needs. Other conflicts arise over the use of water, water quantity and quality, and development versus environmental and social issues.

Range of Alternatives

The State of Utah Division of Water Resources has written 11 basin plans that cover the 11 major hydrologic river basins throughout Utah . The preparation of these water plans involved several major data collection programs as well as extensive inter-agency and public outreach efforts. Much was learned through this process; state, local, and federal water planners and managers obtained valuable information for use in their programs and activities, and the public received the opportunity to provide meaningful input in improving the state's water resources stewardship. These plans contain alternatives for local planners to consider in making their own plans.

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Existing Condition

The purpose of this section is to provide information and boilerplate language that will help to describe the existing condition.

Data Review

At the onset, planners should look for any available maps, photos, data and other related visual resources that would help define existing conditions in a watershed. Aerial photography and satellite imagery commissioned by the US Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and other federal agencies is readily available for much of the state. Publications that may provide useful information may include: BLM Resource Management Plans, local Water Conservancy Districts Master Plans, local water service entity planning documents, local watershed protection plans, state river basin plans, Utah Geological Survey groundwater reports, Ground-water Conditions in Utah , United States Geological Survey (USGS) streamflow reports, and other Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) & USGS reports on soils, vegetation and geology and water supply.

Items to Consider

• Watersheds in the state have changed over time due to stream diversions, dams, wells, urban and industrial development, agricultural and changes in vegetation. These changes have resulted in corresponding changes in the quantity of water available, the timing of it availability and its quality. Comparisons of historic photographs with the present can be helpful in identifying and documenting those changes, particularly changes in vegetation.
• By the time streamgages were being installed throughout the state much of the available water was already being diverted for agricultural uses. It may, therefore, be difficult to detect the changes due to human activity since 1847 because those changes have been comparatively small.
• In most watersheds of the state there will be increases in population which will require additional water for municipal and industrial (M&I) uses. Water conservation can be used to reduce those additional demands, but will not completely eliminate the need for additional water. It is anticipated that as agricultural lands are developed for housing a portion of the agricultural water will be converted to municipal and industrial uses. The effects of these changes and other changes in river system operations need to be considered.
• Additional water development will be needed in conjunction with both water conservation and conversion of agricultural water for M&I uses. Local water service entities need to project future water needs and determine the corresponding amounts of conservation and agricultural conversion that will be available for future needs. The difference between these future needs and supplies is the amount of water that needs to be developed. Water service entities then need to factor future development plans into the local watershed plans, balancing that against other uses including agricultural, environmental and recreational. Local water service entities and land managers should also consider the effects of vegetation management on the water yield and quality.
• Cloud seeding to augment natural occurring snow pack has been shown to increase the snow pack approximately 12% when applied on a continuing basis at a cost of about $1.00 per acre-foot of additional water. Those areas of the state not currently participating should consider doing so to increase their water supplies.

Boilerplate Language

…will vary widely depending upon local conditions.

Are there good examples of local plans that could be used to generate boilerplate language?

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Desired Future Condition

The purpose of this section is to provide information and boilerplate language that will help to describe the improvements and changes that need to be made to the existing condition in order to achieve the desired future condition. It also provides the basis for the development of policy statements that support the desired future condition.

Range of Alternatives

The management of the watershed should allow for continued multiple use. It should preserve the quality and quantity of water as well as environmental values and allow the watershed to support existing as well as future uses. County plans and other local plans should include a discussion of future needs based on these and other local values.

Boilerplate Language

We need to link this to the “items to consider” list.

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Policy and Position Statements

The purpose of this section is to provide boilerplate policy statement language that will support the desired future conditions. A range of possible conditions is provided here.

Boilerplate Language

Policy and position statements for local watersheds are normally developed from local watershed advisory committees. The 2004 Utah State Legislature amended Section 63-38d-401 of the Utah State Code. This legislation defines Utah 's policies and positions on watershed management. LINK to LEGAL

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Goals, Objectives, and/or Action Items

The purpose of this section is to provide boilerplate examples of the types of improvements or changes that typically would be needed to reach the desired future condition. “Goal” is the desired condition. “Objectives” are improvements or changes that need to be made to reach the goal. “Action Items” are specific actions that can be taken in order to achieve the objective.

Goals, objectives and/or action items will be developed through these local watershed advisory committees. These communities should include as many of the local stakeholders as is reasonably possible. The Division of Water Quality has taken an active role in promoting and organizing watershed committees in many parts of the state.

Can we link to some of these committee pages?

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Monitoring Methods and Mechanisms

The purpose of this section is to provide suggested techniques and methods for monitoring progress towards the desired condition.

This is done through the local watershed advisory committees and through the adoption/recommendations of County Commissions , water conservancy districts and other water supplier entities. Monitoring should be designed to detect changes in water quantity and quality so that improvements or impairments can be detected.

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Sources and Resources to Assist

This section is intended to be a reference guide to help locate any sources of assistance.

The Utah Division of Water Resources can help with the following in your local watershed:

•  Flood hydrology

•  River system modeling (for many areas of the state)

•  Precipitation and snowpack comparison. (historical/present)

•  Streamflow estimations (historical/present)

•  Cloud seeding or weather modification assistance

•  Water related land use information

Other data and input sources where technical expertise can be obtained are:

1. Streamflow:

• United States Geological Survey (USGS) http://www.ut.water.usgs.gov
• Utah Division of Water Rights River Commissioner Database http://waterrights.utah.gov
• Local Water Conservancy Districts
• Local Water Service Entities
• Local Irrigation Companies

2. Precipitation and/or Snowpack

• National Weather Service http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/Saltlake/climate
• Utah State Climatologist http://climate.usu.edu
• National Climate Data Center http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html
• MESOWEST - Regional weather from University of Utah http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/mesonet
• Natural Resources Conservation Service Snow Survey Program – Utah http://www.ut.nrcs.usda.gov/snow

3. Federal Resource Management Plans

• Local Bureau of Land Management office
• Local Natural Resource Conservation District office
• Local US Forest Service

4. Local Water Planning Plans

• Utah Division of Water Resources http://www.water.utah.gov/Planning
• Local Water Conservancy Districts
• Local Water Service Entities
• Local Associations of Governments

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