Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — A two-page spread showcasing a photo of light creeping over red rock outcroppings at Arches National Park is the first thing readers see when they open the third annual Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air's report to the governor and Utah Legislature.
The image raises the question of whether the sun is setting or rising in the picture, something Brian Steed, executive director of the Utah State University-led institute, equated to the state of Utah as a whole.
"I can soundly say I think that the sun is rising and actually, in the picture, it really was," Steed said. "But I think it's rising over the state. I think it's rising over Utah's land, water and air."
The report — compiled by Utah State University researchers and experts — is a snapshot of key issues and concerns related to Utah's shared resources and provides context to these issues while highlighting areas that require further study. The report's goal is to inform the public and Utah's policymakers so they can be more equipped to make informed decisions regarding land, water and air.
Land
As Utah has become more and more urbanized, the state's land management practices have become more diverse.
A recent example of a land management challenge is Utah's efforts to mitigate wildfires. Since 2020, Utah has seen a sharp decline in acres burned as a result of human-caused and other fires.
"We have done remarkably well in reducing human-caused wildfires," Steed said. "And sure, that was a bit because we had much wetter vegetation this year and we had a lot of rain, but it probably also has to do with some of the policy that we've been promoting as a state."
While the state has largely avoided disaster fires over the past five years, the report noted that significant management practices could be required to continue that trend.
Water
After a drought-dominated 2022, 2023 saw the wettest winter on record in Utah and as a result, the state saw a huge recovery of the statewide reservoir system.
"When you see last year, you had 43% of statewide storage. This year, at the end of irrigation season, we're seeing 75%, which is really remarkable for this time of year," Steed said.
Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge have also seen a bit of a rebound, with Lake Powell jumping from 24% filled in October 2022 to 36% this October. Flaming Gorge is now 87% filled, compared to 71% at this time last year.
There are still major concerns regarding the Great Salt Lake. The south arm of the lake rose by 5.5 feet after runoff season but the north arm of the lake only rose by about a foot, according to the report. While there are some positives to be gleaned from the state's last water year, there are still some "reality checks" to be had.
"It takes a lot more water years like this one, given our current use of water ... it would take an additional six water years like the one we just had in order to fill (reservoirs)," Steed said. "Just being very honest, we don't anticipate that being the case."
Air
While the recent water trends are at least encouraging, the outlook for air quality isn't quite as optimistic — especially along the Wasatch Front and the Unita Basin.
On a positive note, Utah this year has seen fewer days of inversion and lower levels of smoke pollution from regional forest fires than in recent years, according to the report. In that same breath, the state has seen an increased concern over summer ozone along the Wasatch Front and winter ozone in the Unita Basin.
The report also showed that issuing air quality advisories isn't having the desired impact on reducing vehicle emissions.
"Results from this research suggest that the advisories provided at best weak, at worst perverse, incentives for reducing vehicle usage on yellow air days and ultimately for mitigating the occurrence of red air day episodes during northern Utah's winter inversion seasons," the report states.
Energy
Utah state code stipulates that it is a policy for the state to "have adequate, reliable, affordable, sustainable and clean energy sources."
This code is, in itself, a bit contradictory in the sense that "adequate, reliable, affordable" sources of energy have led to a reliance on carbon-intensive energy production. According to the Federal Energy Information Administration, 53% of Utah's electricity production came from coal-fired power plants in 2022. An additional 26% came from natural gas-fired power in that same time frame.
While coal and natural gas aren't sustainable or clean sources of energy, the state has made efforts to ramp up its renewable energy production by way of wind, solar and geothermal energy.
Colorado River
Anyone who has paid attention to Utah's — and the West's — water woes knows just how crucial the Colorado River is as a water source to not just the Beehive State, but six other Southwestern states.
"I can tell you straight that in looking at the issues that we have in front of us, the Colorado River is one of the two most pressing issues we have as a state. So trying to get better information into the hands of policymakers who need it (is) really important," Steed said.
Simon Wang, a professor of climate dynamics at USU, identified big water events like last winter's as "miracle events," but he doesn't believe they will be sufficient enough to recover the Colorado River system.
As the current management plan for the river is set to expire in 2026, it is pivotal that states come to an agreement on how much water to store, where to store it and how much water will be used.
What do Utahns think?
Beyond presenting key issues around Utah's resources, the report also weighed Utahns' perceptions of the issues, climate change as a whole and what policymakers are doing to address these issues.
"Utahns are becoming more likely to believe that climate change is happening and more likely to think that it's caused by humans," said Jessica Schad, a professor of sociology and rural communities at USU.
Utahns also want the state's policymakers to do more — specifically surrounding air quality and water scarcity — something reinforced through the report.
"People in Utah really want to see policymakers doing more to address these issues," Schad said.
The full report can be found here.
