“This week in Utah’s land, water, and air,” a newsletter produced by Utah State University's Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air.
Read more and subscribe to the weekly newsletter here.
July 5, 2023
Air Quality
A long-term study involving 9,000 children shows that there's no safe level of air pollution. (Deseret News)
Canada's unprecedented wildfire season has affected air quality beyond its borders. (UPR)
Climate
High-altitude regions will get more extreme rain than previously thought, making floods and landslides more likely. (The New York Times)
Research suggests that human-caused climate change is making high temperatures more common and intensifying the dryness that fuels catastrophic wildfires. (The New York Times)
What is a flash drought? An earth scientist explains. (ABC 4)
Colorado River
AUDIO: Who gets a say in the Colorado River's water supply? (NPR)
Communities
A new 160-acre Bingham Creek Regional Park just made it's debut in South Jordan. (The Salt Lake Tribune)
According to a new study, Provo has the third best water in the United States. (ABC 4)
A warning for Fourth of July kayakers: a temporary bridge over Weber River is too low for people to float under, creating a serious safety hazard. (KSL News Radio)
Energy
The TransWest Express high voltage transmission line, envisioned to be completed by 2027, is the largest transmission addition planned for the Western grid in decades. (Deseret News)
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake commissioner intends to seek input from all stakeholders, including environmental and tribal groups, agriculture producers and industries. (FOX 13)
Outdoor Recreation
Utah ranks fifth in the nation in average annual boating-related accidents and fatalities. (KSL News Radio)
Public Lands
The Bureau of Land Management issued a sale notice for oil and gas lease sale in Utah. (Utah Business)
OPINION: An editor at High Country News challenged the arguments some people have made for opposing the BLM Public Lands Rule. (High Country News)
OPINION: The mayor of Bluff shares her thoughts on the impact of local leaders being left out of the negotiations behind a federal public land exchange agreement. (The Salt Lake Tribune)
Water
Officials are warning Utahns to be careful around lakes and rivers after two teens died in separate incidents last weekend. (FOX 13)
Conserving water in your yard can be a daunting prospect, so here are resources from water districts to make keeping up with your neighbors a breeze. (ABC 4)
“Essentially, this program gives each resident the ability to see how much water can be conserved on their landscape,” Utah State University and Salt Lake City released new water efficiency software available to the public. (ABC 4)
Melting ice and groundwater extraction are factors in changing the earth's rotation around its axis, newly published research says. (The New York Times)
Utah gets its second dip tank to help clean motorboats more quickly and efficiently. (Division of Wildlife Resources)
The Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities responded to a recent water study claiming that Salt Lake City’s drinking water was not as healthy as other U.S. cities. (ABC 4)
Wildfire
A new Utah Wildland Fire Operations Center is coming to South Salt Lake. (KSL News Radio)
As Utah's wet winter begins to dry out, a fire prevention order was issued for BLM managed lands in north/central Utah. (KSL TV)
Drone performances are replacing fireworks shows in SLC for Independence Day and Pioneer Day celebrations this year. (The Salt Lake Tribune)
What do Southern Utahns need to know to "keep the wild out of fire this year"? (St. George News)
Forest management critics call for tree thinning to prevent wildfires and improve watersheds. (Deseret News)
Wildlife
AUDIO: Swim-away sheep? Listen to this fascinating story that highlights history we love about the Great Salt Lake. (UPR)
Drastic decline in American white pelicans at Great Salt Lake raises concerns. (FOX 13)
Great Salt Lake wildlife mural bridges continents through migratory birds. (UPR)
Read more and subscribe to the Institute for Land, Water, and Air's weekly newsletter here.