Utah Water Science Center
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The Utah Water Science Center priority is to continue the important work of the Department of the Interior and the USGS, while also maintaining the health and safety of our employees and community. Based on guidance from the White House, the CDC, and state and local authorities, we are shifting our operations to a virtual mode and have minimal staffing within our offices.
National Water Dashboard
Use this interactive map to access water information and weather conditions. Legend available in the top right corner of map.
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News
Groundwater Flow to Colorado River May Decline by a Third over Next 30 Years
A new study projects that a hot and dry future climate may lead to a 29% decline in Upper Colorado River Basin “baseflow” at the basin outlet by the 2050s, affecting both people and ecosystems.
Media Alert: New Flood Warning Gage in Pack Creek near Moab Utah
A new rapid deployment U.S. Geological Survey flood warning gage has been installed in Pack Creek, 9 miles southeast of Moab, Utah, below the June 2021 wildfire burn area.
Great Salt Lake Reaches New Historic Low
The southern portion of the Great Salt Lake is at a new historic low, with average daily water levels dropping about an inch below the previous record set in 1963, according to U.S. Geological Survey information collected at the SaltAir gauge location.
Publications
Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed—A century of change, 1950–2050
ForewordSustaining the quality of the Nation’s water resources and the health of our diverse ecosystems depends on the availability of sound water-resources data and information to develop effective, science-based policies. Effective management of water resources also brings more certainty and efficiency to important economic sectors. Taken...
Clune, John W.; Capel, Paul D.; Miller, Matthew P.; Burns, Douglas A.; Sekellick, Andrew J.; Claggett, Peter R.; Coupe, Richard H.; Fanelli, Rosemary M.; Garcia, Ana Maria; Raffensperger, Jeff P.; Terziotti, Silvia; Bhatt, Gopal; Blomquist, Joel D.; Hopkins, Kristina G.; Keisman, Jennifer L.; Linker, Lewis C.; Shenk, Gary W.; Smith, Richard A.; Soroka, Alexander M.; Webber, James S.; Wolock, David M.; Zhang, Qian
How will baseflow respond to climate change in the Upper Colorado River Basin?
Baseflow is critical to sustaining streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Therefore, effective water resources management requires estimates of baseflow response to climatic changes. This study provides the first estimates of projected baseflow changes from historical (1984 – 2012) to thirty-year periods centered around 2030, 2050, and 2080...
Miller, Olivia L.; Miller, Matthew P.; Longley, Patrick Cullen; Alder, Jay R.; Bearup, Lindsay A.; Pruitt, Tom; Jones, Daniel K.; Putman, Annie Laura; Rumsey, Christine; McKinney, Tim S. Substantial declines in salinity observed across the Upper Colorado River Basin during the 20th century, 1929 to 2019
Salinity in the Colorado River Basin causes an estimated $300 to $400 million per year in economic damages in the U.S. To inform and improve salinity‐control efforts, this study quantifies long‐term trends in salinity (dissolved solids) across the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB), including time periods prior to the construction of large dams and...
Rumsey, Christine; Miller, Olivia L.; Hirsch, Robert; Marston, Thomas M.; Susong, David