NOTES:
Utah:
 2nd driest state in the nation
 2nd highest per capita water use in the nation
HOW are these 2 facts possible?
2 reasons:
 extensive system of storage and distribution of irrigation water
from snowmelt that is trapped and used throughout the
growing season
 very high growth rate, primarily in urban areas
STOP and THINK
As our population increases or if we are in a drought:
1. How will water management for agriculture change?
2. How will water management for human use change?
Read only:
Utah has a
number of
agencies set up
to care for its
water resources.
 Utah Geologic Society
 Utah Department of Environmental
Quality, Division of Water Quality
 Utah Department of Environmental
Quality, Division of Drinking Water
 Department of Natural Resources,
Division of Water Rights
 Department of Natural Resources,
Division of Water Resources
 Plus, individual watershed districts
STOP and THINK
As of today:
1. Is there water shortage concerns
for Northern Utah?
NOTES:
Water Quality Indicators
 Macroinvertebrates
 Small stoneflies or mayflies require high dissolved
oxygen to survive.
NOTES:
Water Quality Indicators
 Dissolved Oxygen Levels
 Varies naturally due to seasons and unnaturally due to
pollution
NOTES:
Water Quality Indicators
 pH
 A measure used to indicate the level of acidity in water
 7 is considered neutral
NOTES:
Water Quality Indicators
 Fecal Coliform Bacteria
 Fecal matter from all warm-blooded animals can cause
dangerous microbes
NOTES:
Water Quality Indicators
 Nutrients
 Eutrophication – natural or unnatural high levels of
nutrients that can cause high densities of phytoplankton
(algae)
NOTES:
Water Quality Indicators
 Water Clarity
 Turbidity – is a measure of light scattering by suspended
particles in the water column
 How far light can penetrate the water
NOTES:
Water Quality Indicators
 Heavy Metals
 Occur naturally but human activities increase the
amounts
 Cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, and nickel
in water are routinely measured
NOTES:
Water Quality Indicators
 Temperature
 Aquatic life depends on certain temperature ranges.
 Temperature also effects dissolved oxygen, amount of
pollution, and other water quality factors.
NOTES:
Water Quality Indicators
 Salinity
 Ocean water is constant at 35 ppt (parts per thousand)
 Freshwater has very little and most freshwater life does
not adapt to a high range of salinity.
 Salinity also affects chemical conditions.