A yearlong study led by Utah State University researchers — in collaboration with the Utah Division of Water Rights — recently identified key gaps in water measurement infrastructure in the Great Salt Lake Basin.
The study, involving over 160 stakeholders, aimed to improve understanding of water flow and determine where investments in stream and diversion flow gaging instruments are needed. The report, "Measurement Infrastructure Gap Analysis in Utah’s Great Salt Lake Basin", highlights the need for improved data collection to manage and protect the region's water resources effectively.
Researchers found widespread support among stakeholders, from private water users to public organizations, who share a strong interest in gathering more precise water data. The study’s findings are a first step toward pinpointing areas where new or upgraded hydrologic data could enhance water management.
Stakeholders hope that collaborative efforts will help overcome the financial challenges of installing and maintaining necessary infrastructure, ensuring a resilient water supply for the basin.
“There are still differing perspectives and ideas about how to best address water measurement gaps in the Great Salt Lake basin, with a lot of different needs for limited water resources,” Utah State University researcher Eryn Turney says in a Utah State Today article. “But it has been exciting to see the enthusiasm of stakeholders when it comes to collaboration on water measurements that will ensure a resilient water supply for the basin as a whole.”
