Watershed News

Watersheds throughout Utah are doing great work to conserve and improve our state's precious natural resources.

From planning, to on-the-ground improvement, to information and education programs, here are a few examples of watershed-specific efforts.

Sanpitch River Watershed

Plan seeks to improve quality of San Pitch
By John Hales and Sue Gillham
3-15-06--Reprinted with permission from the Sanpete Messenger
Group sets out to clean up 'impaired' local waterways

After nearly a decade of being classified as an environmentally "impaired" waterway, there is now a plan to get the San Pitch River off the state's blacklist.

In a couple of meetings in recent weeks, Polly Johnson, Sanpete County's watershed coordinator, and Jay Olsen, chairman of the San Pitch Watershed Stewardship Group presented that plan, called the San Pitch River Watershed Water Quality Management Plan. Full story

East Canyon Watershed

Survey reveals local concern for water quality, but lack of information
By Greg Larson, Swaner Nature Preserve

Three quarters of local residents are aware of water quality concerns in East Canyon Creek and Silver Creek, and seventy-eight percent feel that storm water pollution in the area is a serious issue, but almost as many residents don't know what happens to storm water after it disappears into the closest storm drain. In addition, most residents feel that water quality in our creeks is less important that water quality, despite the fact that the two are inseparably linked.

These insights, and many others useful to local planners and educators, were provided by a recent survey of over 200 adult residents in the 84060, 84068, and 84098 zip codes. The survey was conducted on behalf of the East Canyon Watershed Committee and Swaner Nature Preserve. Full story