Full Description

The Salt Lake City Watershed Canyons water supply is a unique system given its proximity to a growing population, recreation attraction and the direct stream flow that brings water from high in the watershed to the water treatment system in just a few hours. As a result, there is minimum buffering to minimize water quality impacts, with the exception of watershed protection strategies. The City developed water quality monitoring and response plans as part of a water quality information system to provide a basis for continuing watershed protection strategies. Salt Lake City has the benefit of cooperative jurisdiction in its watershed canyons and has implemented extensive water quality protection policies. However, continuing development and recreational pressures in the canyons pose a threat to water quality. With the demand for increased use, developers, residents, recreationists, and others with canyon-related interests are demanding the scientific basis for the protection policies. Salt Lake City identified a need for sound science and data to support common sense approaches for protecting its source water. The size and diversity of the watershed canyons increases the complexity of issues among user groups, management agencies, and environmental groups. These issues include, but are not limited to such topics as: microbiological contaminants from recreation; chemical use in the canyons (e.g., lawn care); development impacts; wildlife impacts; wastewater collection and management; snowmaking additives; erosion; appropriate level of automobile traffic; and, fire management, i.e., attack and suppress vs. controlled burns. As host to the 2002 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City also has a unique opportunity to evaluate a temporary, but substantial increase in population and use of the watershed canyons. As a result, a sound scientific analysis is being developed to provide an unbiased explanation to watershed users on how different land uses and activities can affect water quality, why protection strategies are needed, and where to focus protection efforts. An initial step in the project was to integrate input from a panel of experts. Salt Lake City wanted to get insight from national experts, as well as experts from local universities, which could provide long-term continuity for future studies and project developments. Key components of the effort included review of existing monitoring activities and making recommendations for modifications to fill data gaps or reduce monitoring, where possible. Due to the direct stream flow characteristics of the water treatment plants and watershed recreation activities, pathogens were a high priority. The City has developed its water quality monitoring program to establish baseline water quality and track water quality issues and changes that may result from growth and changes in land use activities. This water quality information system is integrally linked to the City's water quality management goals through monitoring network design, interpretation and reporting of results, and information needs. The City has also developed a companion document to the Monitoring Plan called a Response Plan. The Response Plan incorporates Monitoring Plan elements but focuses on the planning process, relation of monitoring to watershed issues, and providing guidance for water quality protection decisions. The management decision process described in the Response Plan promotes a dynamic relationship between the Monitoring Plan and the Response Plan, where each can impact and improve the other as new information is gathered at any point in the cycle. Includes figures.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 01/01/2002 Number of Pages: 16File Size: 1 file , 410 KB