Drought

Last week, Utah State University hosted the 47th annual National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Diagnostics & Prediction Workshop. PhD student Grace Affram in USU's Plant, Soils & Climate department said, "We thought it was the increase in temperature, because we all know global warming and greenhouse gases increase temperature. We later realized that temperature could only be a temporary, secondary driver."

Starting this week, the state is taking applications for a program to pay up to $1 dollar a square foot of turf to replace water-guzzling grass with drought-resistant landscaping.

With reservoir levels across the state at historic lows, water districts and individuals are struggling to find enough water to meet demand. One community on the edge of Box Elder County is torn between public and private water sources.

Ongoing warming in the Southwest has bottomed out major reservoirs on the Colorado River and raised alarms among cities and farms that rely on the water. But the region’s rapid warming and drying trend is also a threat to the environment in one of the world’s most recognizable wonders: the Grand Canyon.

The blend was created in a partnership between USU, the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance and Salt Lake City Public Utilities. USU is exploring creating other grass blends for different climates in the state.

Since Glen Canyon Dam was commissioned in 1964 and it first began filling, Lake Powell has never been like it is right now, at just 27% of its capacity. It’s threatening to dip below the minimum elevation needed to produce hydropower within the next year. A string of dry winters could push it to dead pool status.

A recent report says that the Colorado River is America’s most endangered. Today we’ll talk with reporter Alex Hager.

Unlike much of Utah, Logan City is not in drought and currently has no water restrictions in place. Still, city officials have a conservation plan just in case. Read part two of this two-part series.

Logan City Water Department Manager Joseph Hawkes said thatcompared to last year, the water wells are doing better than they expected. Read part one of this two-part story.

Almost the entire state of Utah is currently experiencing severe drought. In the second part of this two-part series, read about what continued drought means for people and natural resources.