Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Plan B and other Reports Graduate Studies 5-2011 Great Salt Lake Watershed: Its Role in Maintaining the Wetlands of the Great Salt Lake Danny C. White Jr. Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports Part of the Environmental Health Commons, Environmental Sciences Commons, and the Forest Sciences Commons Recommended Citation White, Danny C. Jr., "Great Salt Lake Watershed: Its Role in Maintaining the Wetlands of the Great Salt Lake" (2011). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports. 38. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/38 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Plan B and other Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Great Salt Lake WATERSHED Its role in maintaining the wetlands of the Great Salt Lake Plan B Thesis Danny C. White M.S. Bioregional Planning Utah State University College of Natural Resources Department of Environment and Society 2010-2011 Great Salt Lake Watershed: Its role in maintaining the wetlands of the Great Salt Lake Plan B Project Danny C. White MS – Bioregional Planning Utah State University Committee Chair: Richard E. Toth Committee Members: Karin M. Kettenring, and Joseph Wheaton Utah State University College of Natural Resources Department of Environment and Society Bioregional Planning Program March 2011 Table of Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. iii Preface ...................................................................................................................................... iv Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. v Introduction............................................................................................................................... 1 Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 3 Issues of Concern .................................................................................................................... 6 Regional Inventory .................................................................................................................. 10 Geology ................................................................................................................................. 10 Climate .................................................................................................................................. 13 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................. 18 Ecoregions of the Great Salt Lake .......................................................................................... 24 Critical Wildlife Habitat ........................................................................................................ 31 History and Culture ............................................................................................................... 35 Wetlands of the Great Salt Lake ............................................................................................ 42 Understanding Wetlands ........................................................................................................ 41 Effects of Climate Change and Water Development on Wetlands .......................................... 46 Evaluation Models ................................................................................................................... 49 Working Lands ...................................................................................................................... 52 Public Health, Welfare, and Safety ........................................................................................ 54 Critical Habitat ...................................................................................................................... 60 Integrated Resources .............................................................................................................. 66 Alternative Futures ................................................................................................................. 72 Plan Trend ............................................................................................................................. 72 Build Out ............................................................................................................................... 74 Focused Development............................................................................................................ 76 Focused Development (Plan Trend) ................................................................................... 76 Focused Development (Build Out) ..................................................................................... 76 LEED .................................................................................................................................... 79 Evaluation of Future Models .................................................................................................. 82 Effects of Alternative Futures on Great Salt Lake Wetlands ................................................... 87 i Table of Contents Conclusions .............................................................................................................................. 89 Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 89 References................................................................................................................................ 92 Appendices Appendix A: Ecoregions of the Great Salt Lake Watershed ................................................... 98 Appendix B: Impact of Alternative Futures on Ecoregions ................................................... 105 Appendix C: Wildlife of the Great Salt Lake Watershed ...................................................... 106 Appendix D: Building Water Efficiency .............................................................................. 111 Appendix E: Additional LEED Requirements ...................................................................... 113 Appendix F: Alternative Future Impacts on Evaluation Models ........................................... 132 Appendix F: GIS Data Sources ............................................................................................ 133 ii Acknowledgments I would like to thank the many people who gave of their time and energy in the support of this project. First, Professor Richard E. Toth, of the Department of Environment and Society, served as my committee chair and was integral throughout this project, offering both insight and advice. Karin M. Kettenring and Joseph Wheaton, both of the Department of Watershed Sciences, also served as committee members and provided valuable guidance and support. I would also like to thank Fee Busby for his assistance during the development of this study. And without the aid of Becky Hirst and Tracy Jones this project would not have been possible. Aside from University staff, I would like to thank the Utah Division of Water Resources for answering my many questions and providing literature for review. Lynn de Freitas from the Friends of the Great Salt Lake also provided valuable information about the lake and insight into additional resources. I will be forever indebted the many friends who were willing to give of their time by reviewing and providing feedback on this report. As well as assisting me in other areas of my life while I worked six days a week researching, writing, and building models for this project. I would also like to thank my amazing wife Stephanie for without her tireless efforts and patience I would never have been able to complete this project. Lastly I would like to thank my son Parker, for providing me with inspiration and motivation throughout this entire process. iii Preface The following bioregional planning study is a direct result of the 2009- 2010 studio project initiated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The FWS contacted the study team and asked them to determine how the future growth and development of the Bear River Watershed would impact the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR). The study looked at all of the physical and biophysical systems within the Bear River Watershed to identify the issues that had an effect on the BRMBR. It became apparent from the original project that the future of the BRMBR and other Great Salt Lake wetlands was dependent upon the future use of water within the Bear River Watershed and the Great Salt Lake Watershed as a whole. Further research uncovered significant proposed withdrawals to the tributaries of the Great Salt Lake as well as some directly from the lake itself. After discussions with multiple stakeholders that rely on water from Great Salt Lake tributaries and water from the lake, it became clear that there was a need for a study to determine how the proposed future use of water within the Great Salt Lake Watershed would affect the wetlands that border the lake. It is the goal of this study to determine how the future