Strong Snowpack is Good for Utah's Water Supply, but State is Working to Help Mitigate Flood Risk

Courtesy Utah Division of Water Resources

As spring runoff draws closer, Utah’s snowpack is holding strong and making steady gains as we reach the time of year when our snowpack typically peaks. While this is good news for our water supply, it may cause flooding. The state is working closely with counties and cities to mitigate the risk of flooding.

SALT LAKE CITY -

As spring runoff draws closer, Utah’s snowpack is holding strong and making steady gains as we reach the time of year when our snowpack typically peaks. While this is good news for our water supply, it may cause flooding. The state is working closely with counties and cities to mitigate the risk of flooding.

“We want a gradual melt off during the spring that will not overwhelm our rivers and streams,” Candice Hasenyager, director of the Division of

Water Resources, said. “The way our snowpack melts is something our division and the Utah Division of Emergency Management is monitoring closely.”

Last month was one of the snowiest recorded Februarys in the state of Utah, and this month is looking to receive even more snowfall. Even though the freezing temperatures have been frustrating for some, this amount of water is significant for our dry state. In October of last year, 96%

Drought Update Cont'd on A2 rebuild the Loa Fish Hatchery—the hatchery having been closed in November of 2014 due to an invasive New Zealand mudsnail infestation. Due to the age and

Open Burning; Tips on How to Be Safe (and Legal)

by

Steve Lutz,

Wayne County Fire District Chief WAYNE CO. - We have had a wet winter, cool temperatures, decent fuel moisture, so the drought is over, right? What could possibly go wrong with your open burning? Well, as we’ve seen every year, it often doesn’t take much for things to go wrong fast. The largest wildland fires in Wayne County, since the infamous Lost Lake Fire, have been caused by open burning, so let’s get straight to how to be safe (and legal) if you are going to burn. Open burning is regulated by the Utah Air Quality Division and by State Forestry. Burn permits may be issued between March 1 and May 30 and between September 15 and November 15 in most condition of the original facility—which was built in 1936—removal of the snails was not feasible, and because the original infrastructure is not able to be upgraded, the hatchery has not been in operation since.

According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), the Loa Loa Hatchery Cont'd on B5

The Commissioners were pleased with having received three competitive bids for the hospital project. They agreed with the search committee’s evaluation of all three companies comparing bids, timelines, and fees.

Clerk/Auditor Ca- mille Moore described Garfield Commission Cont'd on A3

Grand Staircase Regional Guides Assoc. Hosts Spring Meeting in Escalante

by Ian Marynowski

Ian Marynowski

On Saturday, March 25, 2023, the Grand Staircase Regional Guides Association hosted their spring meeting in Escalante.

ESCALANTE - On Saturday, March 25, 2023, the Grand Staircase Regional Guides Association hosted their spring meeting in Escalante. Taking place around a fire with the Escalante River canyon as a backdrop, the core group of professional guide business owners were also joined by other employees and a member of a local non profit organization: Grand Staircase Escalante Partners. the guides association was founded roughly a year and a half ago to advocate for recreational permit holders on and around Grand Staircase - Escalante Na-

Open Burning Cont'd on B5 Spring Meeting Cont'd on

2023 Panguitch Easter Egg Hunt

April 8, 2023

Panguitch City Park 10 AM

With members ranging from Kanab to Torrey, of Utah was in a severe drought. Today, that numberis only 39%.

“We have a chance to take full advantage of this year’s snowpack by taking steps to be drought resilient,” Hasenyager said. “If you’re a farmer, check out the Agricultural Optimization Program and if you’re a resident, look for tips and tricks on SlowtheFlow.org.

All the water provided by mother nature means we don’t need to irrigate as much to make things grow.”

At-a-glance highlights:

• According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service in their latest report, new records for snow water equivalent are being set at Utah’s SNOTEL sites. As of March 1st, 10 sites were reporting a record high amount of SWE compared with the last 30 years, and 7 more were second highest. The Vernon Creek SNOTEL at the south end of the Tooele watershed already has 231% of its typical peak snowpack. Four other SNOTEL sites also have around double the amount of snow that they would have at their typical peak. The vast majority of Utah’s 137 SNOTEL sites are at (or above) the 85th percentile for SWE compared to their period of record, with 31 in the top five percent.

The Utah Division of Emergency Management is encouraging community members to work with their local public works or emergency management office and help clear ditches, streambeds, canals and culverts of leaves, branches, trash and other debris. Often flooding happens due to debris rather than more water than could normally be handled. Residents can learn more about how to protect their property by visiting floodhazards. utah.gov

The Utah Division of Water Rights is working with the owners and operators of each highhazard dam to monitor the condition of each as water level increases within the reservoir. The hazard level of a dam is determined by the potential impact to life and property a failure would have. A high-hazard dam is one which, if it should fail, would result in loss of life or significant property damage.

• The Utah Division of Recreation is pushing responsible recreation this spring and summer. Swift water can be extremely dangerous, even for experienced swimmers, due to its strong currents and unpredictable nature. Always wear a life jacket when near rivers or streams, even if you do not plan to enter the water.

Great Salt Lake has risen about two feet since its historic low two set in early November 2022. This is due to direct precipitation and inflows to the lake. For context, the lake hardly rose a foot all of last year. We are off to a good start as we look toward spring runoff.

• Twenty-four of the fortyseven reservoirs the division monitors are below 55%, which is about the same as last year but still about 10% lower than normal for this time of year.

• Of the 80 measured streams, 39 are currently flowing below normal. The number ofstreams measured has decreased due to ice on the stream gauges.

• Residents can find watersaving tips at SlowtheFlow.Org.

—Utah Division of Water Resources

Prescribed Burn:

As of April 3, 2023, the U.S. Forest Service-Fishlake National Forest has initiated their plan to burn approximately 100 acres of activity fuels (slash) on the Fremont River Ranger District, in Wayne County, Utah, as long as weather conditions permit.

Prescribed Burn

Cont'd from A1

Creek. This project focuses on reducing pinyon and juniper succession within the mountain shrub and sagebrush steppe vegetation types on the north slope of Boulder Mountain.

Legal Description:

Township 29 South, Range 3 East, Sections 28 and 32 Township 30 South, Range 3 East, Sections 4, 5, 9, 10

Lat/Long: N 38o 15’13.90”, W 111o 35’ 45.17”

Planned Actions:

Fremont River Ranger District plans to burn 100 acres of the Pine Creek Lop and Scatter unit, located in Government Creek, on Forest Serviceadministered land. The Lop & Scatter Unit was completed in the spring of 2022. Fire personnel in the district plan to begin hand ignitions within pockets of available slash during the week of April 3, 2023 and will continue ignitions until the unit is completed.

Project Objectives:

• Increase the abundance of vigorous sagebrush/ bitterbrush plants and the associated understory of grass and forb species.

• Reduce the potential for undesirable large stand-