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Developmentof water resources in the Colorado River Basin is complicatedby, among other things, the fact that the river containsfour native fish species listed as endangered under the EndangeredSpecies Act (ESA). To address the issues related to resourcedevelopment and compliance with the ESA, the states of Colorado,Utah and Wyoming have joined with the U.S. Department ofInterior, Western Area Power Administration, and representatives of the environmentaland water development communities, to form the Recovery Implementation Programfor Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin (RecoveryProgram). The purpose of the Recovery Program is to facilitaterecovery of the listed fishes, a goal greater than theavoidance...
Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Conference Citation; Tags: ASCE
Astudy of the influences of Paleo Pacific Ocean Sea SurfaceTemperature (SST) variability and water-year Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB)reconstructed streamflow is presented. Reconstructed streamflow data is available fromseveral sources in the UCRB. The proxy records (streamflow) arederived from tree ring chronologies and these streamflow reconstructions providean effective way to analyze patterns of variability (including drought)over a period of time extending beyond any instrumental recordin UCRB. Yearly proxy and coral based Pacific Ocean SSTreconstructions, consisting of five by five degree cells, are availablefrom 1590 to 1990. The range selected for the studyis from Latitude 20� South to 60� North and 120�East...
Thequality of historical fluvial-sediment data cannot be taken for granted,based on a review of upper Colorado River basin suspended-sedimentdischarges, and on an evaluation of the reliability of TotalSuspended Solids (TSS) data. Additionally, the quality of future fluvial-sedimentdata are not assured. Sediment-surrogate technologies, including those that operateon acoustic, laser, bulk optic, digital optic, or pressure differentialprinciples, are being used with increasing frequency to measure in-streamand (or) laboratory fluvial-sediment characteristics. Data from sediment-surrogate technologies mayyield results that differ significantly from those obtained by traditionalmethods for the same sedimentary conditions....
TheState of Colorado's Stream Simulation Model (StateMod) is an integralcomponent of the Colorado Decision Support Systems effort. The StateModmodel is a generic water resource model capable of simulatingstream diversions, instream flow demands, well pumping, reservoir operations andriver flows on a monthly or daily basis for anystream system. Fully developed and calibrated StateMod models represent alldirect flow and storage water rights and reservoir operations inthe following river basins: Upper Colorado River and Gunnison Riverbasins, White River and Yampa River basins, San Juan Riverand Dolores River basins, and Rio Grande basin in Coloradoand the Bear River basin in Wyoming. This paper willprovide engineers,...
Fluvialsediment has been reported a natural diffuse source of salinityin the Upper Colorado River Basin. This paper describes experimentaland mathematical modeling to identify major factors controlling salt releasefrom suspended sediments. Salt release characteristics of suspended sediments werestudied using sediments from various locations in the Price RiverBasin, a tributary to the Colorado River. The sediments weremixed with water in the laboratory and the change inelectrical conductivity of the solutions was monitored while varying thefollowing factors: dilution, particle size, mixing velocity, and initial electricalconductivity. The Buckingham Pi Theorem was employed to develop equationsfor predicting the electrical...
Conflicts in water resources exist because river-reservoir systems are managed to optimize traditional benefits (e.g., hydropower and flood control), which are historically quantified in economic terms, whereas natural and environmental resources, including in-stream and riparian resources, are more difficult or impossible to quantify in economic terms. Multicriteria decision analysis provides a quantitative approach to evaluate resources subject to river basin management alternatives. This objective quantification method includes inputs from special interest groups, the general public, and concerned individuals, as well as professionals for each resource considered in a trade-off analysis. Multicriteria decision...
Thesouthwest United States is currently experiencing three years of droughtcausing water shortages and low lake levels, and now anEl Ni�o event is occurring. This study first assesses thecurrent drought in the southwest United States, and then evaluateswhether anticipated hydrologic impacts from the El Ni�o event aresufficient to end drought conditions. Drought conditions for the ColoradoRiver basin are evaluated using 80 years (1923?2002) of streamflowdata from two United States Geological Survey (USGS) stations locatedin the Upper Colorado River Basin (the Colorado River nearCisco, Utah and the Green River near Green River, Utah).Comparisons of historical cumulative streamflow deficits for droughts during thistimeframe...
Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Conference Citation; Tags: ASCE
Thispaper compares the functional values of existing natural and constructedwetlands with the wetlands that will be filled during constructionof the proposed Legacy Highway near Salt Lake City, Utah.Wetland impact along the proposed highway alignment is the mostimportant issue considered in the project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).This paper proposes a reconnaissance level method by which theLegacy wetlands were compared with six other wetlands, namely, theSalt Lake City wastewater treatment plant wetland (WWTP), Airport andKennecott mitigation wetlands, Farmington Bay, Murray City Jordan River Parkwaywetland and a high elevation natural wetland. Relative ratings forthe functional values for each wetland...
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Irrigationimpoundments, canals, drainage ditches, irrigated fields, and the incidental wetlandscreated by irrigation and drainage, provide valuable habitat for birdsin and around Delta, Utah. Documentation of the creation ofthese areas and observations of bird use from 1995?2004 duringmigration, breeding, and wintering are reported. 147 species of birdswere observed using incidentally created habitat sites. �2004 ASCE Published by ASCE, in 2004.
Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Conference Citation; Tags: ASCE
Utah'shistory over the past several hundred years and the availabilityof water correlate closely and help to explain its past.Water influenced the way of life of the Native Americansand when the Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt LakeValley in July 1847 the availability of water would determinetheir method of colonizing the region. Out of necessity, pioneersadopted the concept of the prior appropriation doctrine, which fundamentalprinciple is first in time, first in right. Much ofthe early administration and development of water in Utah wasdone under cooperative irrigation systems. Initially the State Engineer hadlimited power and authority to only measure stream flow, approveplans for dams and assist in resolving...
Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Conference Citation; Tags: ASCE
TheCentral Utah Water Conservancy District (District) is a political subdivisionof the State of Utah originally charged with managing andoperating the Central Utah Project, a federally funded water project.The District covers 10 counties of Utah and provides culinaryand secondary water to a wide range of communities andwater districts within these counties. They are primarily a waterwholesaler and provide water to communities and other water districts.They operate several dams, reservoirs, canals, pipelines, tunnels, and watertreatment plants. In 2005, the District opted to purchase about42,000 acre-feet of groundwater rights, 23 existing wells, pipelines, apump station and other associated assets made available...
Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Conference Citation; Tags: ASCE
TheArid West is the fastest growing region of the country.Expanding development in this harsh environment brings new stormwater managementchallenges. Bioretention present unique engineering and ecological challenges different thanmore mesic regions of the country. To address these challenges,two bioretention cells are being constructed in Salt Lake Cityto test performance in an arid climate. Factors driving plantselection and design are expected delivery of annual precipitation aswell as physiological traits of native plant species. First, expectedprecipitation amounts and pattern of delivery are reviewed for SaltLake City. Second, physiological benefits and restraints of selected uplandspecies from the area are...
Thehigh demand for water, the recent multiyear drought (1999–2007), andprojections of global warming have raised questions about the long-termsustainability of water supply in the southwestern United States. Inthis study, the potential effects of specific levels of atmosphericwarming on water-year streamflow in the Colorado River basin areevaluated using a water-balance model, and the results are analyzedwithin the context of a multi-century tree-ring reconstruction (1490–1998) ofstreamflow for the basin. The results indicate that if futurewarming occurs in the basin and is not accompanied byincreased precipitation, then the basin is likely to experience periodsof water supply shortages more severe than those...
DiamondFork River, Utah has been used since 1915 to conveyirrigation water from the Colorado River basin to areas alongthe Wasatch Front. These flows have increased summer base flowsmore than 10 times above natural levels and led todramatic changes in channel and floodplain morphology. In 1939, DiamondFork was a meandering, single-thread channel averaging 12 m inwidth. By 1952, the lower 6 km of the channelwas braided, occupying the entire 150 m-wide valley floor. Concurrentwith changes in floodplain morphology, there has been a 50to 90 per cent reduction in the extent of ripariancottonwood forest. The remaining forest is dominated by late maturecottonwoods, with little survival into premature (2?7 yr) and earlymature...
Amethodology employing dynamic programming is presented for integrating the optimaldesign of water supply, treatment, and conveyance systems, where demandsfor water may vary over a year. The analysis beginswith the water conveyance system so as to determine overallmonthly water allocations for various possible discrete levels of annualfirm yield from a proposed reservoir that maximize net benefits.An analysis is then conducted on the reservoir to determinethe minimum required reservoir capacity for each discrete firm yield,given the previously computed water allocations for each level. Giventhe costs for each sizing, the size and design ofthe reservoir and conveyance system that maximizes total net benefitsis easily...
Thispaper focuses on the relationship between streamflow in the ColoradoRiver and climate indicators such as the Multivariate ENSO Index(MEI) and tree-ring data. Improved procedures for streamflow reconstruction usingtree-ring information are presented. Streamflow reconstruction is important for identificationof historic severe-sustained droughts. Traditionally, Principal Components Analysis (PCA) andstepwise regression are used to form a transfer function (i.e.,tree-ring information to reconstruct streamflow. However, PCA has several proceduralchoices that may result in very different reconstructions. This studyassesses the different procedures in PCA-based regression and suggests alternativeprocedures for selection...
Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Conference Citation; Tags: ASCE
The National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) and Seismic Design Maps are a suite of products primarily aimed at improving earthquake-resilient construction in the United States by providing information about potential ground shaking caused by earthquakes. The NSHM is updated every six years to provide the basis for the Seismic Design Maps used in building codes.
Recently,the United States Bureau of Reclamation agreed to increase springreleases from Upper Colorado River Basin reservoirs to create amore natural flow regime in the lower Gunnison River andUpper Colorado River. Fishery managers have expressed concern that newoperations could change reservoir conditions and jeopardize popular and economicallyimportant reservoir sport fisheries. This study attempts to predict howone aspect of reservoir conditions, thermal structure, might respond tonew dam operations at Blue Mesa Reservoir aimed at addressingdownstream ecological concerns. A one-dimensional thermal model (CE-THERM) is appliedto simulating thermal effects of ?traditional? and proposed ?new? damoperation scenarios....
Withthe exception of our neighbor to the west, Nevada, Utahreceives less annual average precipitation (approximately 13 inches) than anyof the other 50 States. The average rainfall for theUnited States is approximately 30 inches per year. As aresult, water problems and solutions have always played an importantrole in Utah. To assist in providing solutions to state,national, and international water problems and to develop a world-classfacility for water research, plans began as early as 1949to construct a water research facility at Utah State University.Through funding provided by the Utah State Legislature, National ScienceFoundation, and the National Institutes of Health, the Utah WaterResearch Laboratory was completed...
Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Conference Citation; Tags: ASCE


    map background search result map search result map Bird Use of Habitat Created by Irrigation and Drainage Practices in the Delta, Utah Area Bird Use of Habitat Created by Irrigation and Drainage Practices in the Delta, Utah Area