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How can Utah ensure enough water to both municipalities and farmers?
Background
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>95% of Utah’s water comes from snow (Troy Brosten)
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Contact: tbrosten@yahoo.com
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We are getting less/more variable snow
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Already 2nd driest state in the country (source), less water puts Utah at risk
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GSL drying, not enough water to farm, Colorado dry, bad for ecotourism
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Majority of Utah’s water use comes from agricultural and municipal/industrial use (2023 u of u GSL task force)
Background 2
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Drought in west
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Colorado dying
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Great salt lake dying
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Lake powell dying
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Need to leave water in there
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Where can we save water?
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80% of water used for ag
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20% used for municipal and industrial
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“The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.”
-Lady Bird Johnson -
Compared to the period 1948-1999, the average drought area increased 17% over the western United States from 2000-2022
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The searing “megadrought” that has gripped the southwest U.S. for more than two decades is the driest 22-year period in at least 1,200 years.
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https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/western-megadrought-is-the-worst-in-1-200-years/
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Drought could last until 20230
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“Clearly, the lion’s share of what needs to be done has to be done by the lower basin states,” said Estevan López, the negotiator for New Mexico
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2000–2021 was the driest 22-yr periodsince at least 800
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Talk to Dr. Dasch
In 2022, a study published in Nature stated that “2000-2021 was the driest 22 year period since at least 800.” (Nature) As water demand increases and droughts continue throughout the Southwest, maintaining water in major waterways has become difficult. This has been especially taxing on the Colorado River, which supposedly provides 17.5 acre feet of water to the Southwestern United States each year. Unfortunately, the river has only been able to provide 10 million acre feet of water per year for the past couple years (NYTimes). As the river's flow has declined, allocating water has become more difficult, and the federal government is beginning to mandate that certain states begin to conserve more water (doi). States are arguing amongst themselves who legally has to take the cuts in water allotment. The Upper Basin (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) argue that they can’t make many more cuts. As the negotiator for New Mexico says, “...the lion’s share of what needs to be done has to be done by the lower basin states.” (NYTimes) While Arizona, California, and Nevada most definitely need to make major reductions in water use, the Colorado belongs to all of us, so we must all do our part. As Lady Bird Johnson eloquently puts it, “The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.”
Additionally, we have our own personal troubles to consider. In 2022, the Great Salt Lake reached the lowest levels ever recorded, (dwr) only 45% of the level twenty years prior. (me) The main tributaries to the Great Salt Lake are the Bear and Jordan Rivers, whose annual streamflow has been steadily declining since 1980 (University of Utah).
(NYTimes) Flavelle, C., & Rojanasakul, M. (2023, January 27). As the Colorado River shrinks, Washington prepares to spread the pain. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/climate/colorado-river-biden-cuts
(dwr) https://water.utah.gov/great-salt-lake/
(me) https://bulldogpress.org/3582/news/senate-bill-18/
(u of utah) https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/GSL-Assessment-Feb2023.pdf
Agricultural
Water Use
On average, Utah has used ___ KAF of water for agriculture from 20__ to 20__ (U of U). However, this amount is highly variable. Insert Graph. I took water data from the U of U and crop production data from Utah Agricultural Statistics and Summary Report from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food to analyze water yield vs. production. Fruit production is ignored as it is super small compared to crops. Additionally, as Utah is a cold desert biome, summer precipitation is ignored as it is minimal.
Figure 1:
As seen in Figure 1, as water depletion increases, crop yield does not necessarily increase. In fact, in three out of four crops, yield decreased as water increased. However, it should be noted that r^2 values are incredibly small. At most, 11% of the variance in the data is accounted for by change in water depletion. This tells us that water depletion does not play a significant role in crop yield. So, in theory, we can potentially decrease up to 20.6% of our agricultural water use and maintain the same yield. Alternatively, we could mandate only x acre feet/ acre of x crop is allowed to be used.
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https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lR4XbW-Ugg3QD-2uBTTpW0f2hM29_a7tj81i3f6gN48/edit?gid=0#gid=0
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As utah is a cold desert biome, summer precip is ignored
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Alfalfa ‘thirstiest’ crop in North America (thirsty)https://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/thirstycrops.pdf
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This could be useful (guardian)https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/12/colorado-drought-water-alfalfa-farmers-conservation
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Walk through graph
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Ask Mr. James how to talk about it
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Sources: University of Utah GSL and (uofu)https://ag.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2022-UDAF-Annual-Report-final-version.pdf
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Mandate only x amount of water is used?
Water Conservation
SB 18
On March 13, 2024, the Utah legislature passed Senate Bill 18, which enables farmers to sell or temporarily “rent” water to the Great Salt Lake that they have conserved from water-saving technologies. This shifts the “use it or lose it” water right policy that has previously been the mentality of farmers throughout the state. However, it should be noted that this bill does not specifically give water to the Great Salt Lake. Additionally, water tracking is difficult and allocating these water rights will not be easy. Water tracking meters throughout the state are outdated (Scotty). Money will need to be invested to bring these up to date.
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SB 18 - https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/SB0018.html (SB 18)
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Allows farmers to “rent” water rights for seven years and give water to streams of GSL
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Can be applied throughout state to other bodies of water?
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Talk to Scotty about this
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Invest in better water tracking (Scotty)
Agricultural Water Optimization Project
In 2019, Utah started the Agricultural Water Optimization Project (AWOP). It has invested $73, 441,375 in 369 farms costing a total of $195,990,601. In total, they have saved 170 KAF/year. They cover 75% of surface drip and automated surge valves and 50% of all other water optimization projects (AWOP info). $62,684,494 more was requested then awarded, so demand is high. With SB 277, $200 million more was given to this program, $170 million of which comes from our state and $30 million of which comes from the federal American Rescue Plan (SB 277). While this is a significant amount of money, it is only a one-time investment. Funding will need to continue for decades. Raising outdoor water tax on municipalities should be considered to fund programs such as these.
Agricultural Water Optimization Project
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https://ag.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2023-Annual-Report-Final.1-1-compressed.pdf (AWOP)
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https://ag.utah.gov/agricultural-water-optimization/program-information/ (AWOP info)
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Contact: UDAF-wateroptimization@utah.gov
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2019- present
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Amount water saved: 170 KAF/year (2019-2023 annual report)
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Total cost: $195,990,601
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Requested: $136,125,869
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Funded: $73, 441,375
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Future investments
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200 mil granted in 2023 legislative session sb 277
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Need to continue funding for this
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Raise water tax on municipalities
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SB 277
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"Agricultural water optimization" means the implementation of agricultural and water management practices that maintain viable agriculture while reducing water depletion to enhance water availability and minimize impacts on water supply, water quality, and the environment.
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170 mill from Agricultural Water Optimization Account
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30 mil from Federal Funds - American Rescue Plan
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One time investment
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Other Considerations
While we should continue to try and improve water conservation in agriculture throughout the state, we must ask ourselves a somewhat uncomfortable question: do we need these farms?
Farm Bill
Talk to Dr. Dasch
Let me present two other options:
System Conservation Pilot Program
At the end of 2024, the Salt Lake Tribune published an article with a shocking headline: Utah Will Pay Millions for Farmers to Leave Fields Empty – and Leave Water For the Colorado River. This is through the System Conservation Pilot Program. Funded by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, it pays farmers not to farm - a radical idea. In 2023, there were 20 projects in Utah, costing a total of $15,969,053. 15,090 acre feet were saved. This is about $360 per acre foot of water.
(SCPP)https://cra.utah.gov/system-conservation-pilot-program/
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Funded by inflation reduction act
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2023 out
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Utah paying farmers not to farm https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2024/12/29/colorado-river-basin-utah-will-pay/
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Look into this: http://www.ucrcommission.com/system-conservation-pilot-program/
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https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XKB0ykby36F9KNPxUwAWHiBMldSTIrbm1jWxnCIjKTE/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Solar/Wind Farm Rent
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https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/policies/IM2021-005_att3.pdf
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Sheet with per acre solar land value: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XKB0ykby36F9KNPxUwAWHiBMldSTIrbm1jWxnCIjKTE/edit?gid=1913472136#gid=1913472136
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Ask enyo about their stuff
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Contact: christine
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and is irrigated for crops that need water $600/acre and that amount goes up $50/acre every five years.
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If the land is in a location that is highly competitive, the per acre payment could be $800/acre or even higher and go up with CPI or CPU.
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If the land is in the middle of nowhere and it is grazing land, $250/acre and goes up 10% every five years.
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Fishing Places/Dude Ranches?
Municipal/Industrial
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Majority of water use is residential (DWR 2015)
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https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1MzalQ2oItss6SiiulAvNzSlaeUP4X0P2hYHndpsg-w0/edit?usp=sharing
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Explain how water overall is only impacted by outdoor water use
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Research and break down outdoor water use (mostly yards?)
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75% municipal water use is outdoor use https://utahrivers.org/are-we-running-out-of-water
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Lawns
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Subsidize zero-scapes, illegal to water lawn during day, increase water cost?
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Best to water 5 am to 9 am- more cost efficient but also less water loss due to evaporation and wind https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/when-best-time-water-garden
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112.Donald A. Wilhite.pdf
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Nondrought: Permanent mandatory maximum once or twice weekly watering rule (temporary variance for new turf and plant establishment, e.g., 30 days), irrigation during evening and early morning hours only (minimize evaporative losses due to higher daytime temperatures and wind)
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Drought: No or limited watering (e.g., once or twice weekly or once every 10 days)
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Inclining tiered water rates and surcharges for excessive lawn and landscape watering and other nonessential outdoor uses, outdoor water use evaluations, “cash for grass” rebates and bill credits for turf removal, and irrigation system efficiency upgrades
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Water-efficient landscape designs (e.g., functional turf areas only) that thrive on natural rainfall or very limited irrigation
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Native and/or drought-tolerant adaptive turf and plants (“Right plant, right place”)
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Organic soil, mulches, turf, and plants, and natural pest control to boost plant vitality, retain soil and plant moisture, and avoid introducing harmful chemicals into local drinking water sources and the environment
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Avoidance of synthetic fertilizers and harmful chemicals that require “watering in” and which can lead to excessive lawn growth (and increased mowing and irrigation demands) and pollution into waterways
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Efficient irrigation systems and devices (e.g., limited irrigation areas, automatic rain shut-off, high- efficiency rotating spray nozzles, drip and micro- spray irrigation for plant beds and gardens)
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Soil moisture sensors and “smart” irrigation controllers—only if they will reduce irrigation use (Note: “smart” controllers cannot reduce water waste that results from poorly maintained not-smart irrigation systems that are badly designed, leaking, and have broken sprinkler heads; controllers must also be properly installed and maintained or else they may increase water use)
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Rainwater harvesting (e.g., essential uses and efficient irrigation only)
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15-100% potential water saving rancePage 313
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Public officials and water managers typically remain stubbornly resistant to calls for mandatory lawn watering bans during droughts, opting for less effec- tive voluntary approaches that may only shift but not reduce demand, even during the most severe conditions when water supplies can fall perilously low. (311)
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Rivers for Life: Managing Water for People and Nature, “hefty water bills may not be enough: outright bans on lawn watering when river flows drop below ecological thresholds may be necessary” Postel and Richter (2003, 176)
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Nevada only state to outlaw lawns https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/03/climate/las-vegas-lawn-grass-ban.html
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California may follow (https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2023-09-13/california-legislators-target-nonfunctional-grass#:~:text=In%20adopting%20the%20water%2Dsaving,other%20properties%20starting%20in%202027.)
Golf Courses
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How to address golf courses?
Sources
Agricultural Water Optimization Program Information | Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. 4 Nov. 2024, https://ag.utah.gov/agricultural-water-optimization/program-information/.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Major Milestone to Protect Short-Term Stability of Colorado River Basin | U.S. Department of the Interior. 5 Mar. 2024, https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-major-milestone-protect-short-term-stability.
Flavelle, Christopher, and Mira Rojanasakul. “As the Colorado River Shrinks, Washington Prepares to Spread the Pain.” The New York Times, 27 Jan. 2023. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/climate/colorado-river-biden-cuts.html.
Fu, Jessica. “It’s the Thirstiest Crop in the US South-West. Will the Drought Put Alfalfa Farmers out of Business?” The Guardian, 12 Sept. 2022. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/12/colorado-drought-water-alfalfa-farmers-conservation.
Higgins, Corrine. “Senate Bill 18 Can Improve Lake’s Health.” Bulldog Press, https://bulldogpress.org/3582/news/senate-bill-18/. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
SB0018. https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/SB0018.html. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
System Conservation Pilot Program (SCPP) | Colorado River Authority of Utah. https://cra.utah.gov/system-conservation-pilot-program/. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
University of Utah, et al. Great Salt Lake Policy Assessment.
“Utah Will Pay Millions for Farmers to Leave Fields Empty — and Leave Water for the Colorado River.” The Salt Lake Tribune, https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2024/12/29/colorado-river-basin-utah-will-pay/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Williams, A. Park, et al. “Rapid Intensification of the Emerging Southwestern North American Megadrought in 2020–2021.” Nature Climate Change, vol. 12, no. 3, Mar. 2022, pp. 232–34. www.nature.com, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01290-z.
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To transform your research into a compelling open letter, you must focus on how well it addresses the judging criteria. Here, I’ll use a rating scale of Excellent, Proficient, Developing, and Beginning to provide detailed feedback on your open letter’s strengths and areas for improvement.
Purpose
You need to effectively call attention to the issue of water conservation in Utah and prompt action or reflection. Your current research mentions the System Conservation Pilot Program and the amount of water saved. However, the letter should be more explicit about why this issue matters. Rating: Developing. To improve, clearly state the broader implications of water conservation and why it should prompt action from the readers.
Audience
It’s crucial to address a specific audience while also appealing to a general public audience. Your letter should specify who should care about this issue, such as policymakers or Utah residents. Rating: Developing. Consider opening with a direct address to a particular audience, like “Dear Utah Legislators and Concerned Citizens,” to make it clear who should take note of your message.
Analysis and Persuasion
Your open letter should convincingly argue why recipients and the public should care about or act on the issue. You mention the cost and water savings but lack deeper analysis or persuasive elements. Rating: Developing. Include more background information, such as the potential long-term benefits of water conservation for Utah’s economy and environment, to support your argument.
Language
The letter should have a strong voice and appropriate language, style, and tone. Your current text is informative but lacks the personal touch or urgency that an open letter requires. Rating: Beginning. Write in a more engaging and passionate tone, using phrases like “Imagine a future where…” or “We must act now to ensure…” to capture readers’ attention.
Guidelines
Adherence to contest guidelines, including citations, is essential. You reference the Salt Lake Tribune, but ensure you also include a Times source. Rating: Developing. Add a “Works Cited” section at the end with both Times and non-Times sources to meet the criteria.
Please note that I my comments have been made up to sound like a judge for the Open Letter Contest at the New York times. Learn more about the criteria here: https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/b3f863ed35ba3a7b/3f5b0fe1-full.pdf
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Based on your detailed notes and the nature of the content, it appears you are in the process of WRITING a piece on water management in Utah. Let’s break this down into an organized outline to help guide your writing process. I’ll provide the complete outline but reveal it to you one section at a time. Let me know if you’d like to see the next part after each section.
General Outline for “How Can Utah Ensure Enough Water to Both Municipalities and Farmers?”
1. Introduction
– Brief overview of the water crisis in Utah.
– Importance of addressing both municipal and agricultural needs.
2. Background
– Dependence on snow for water supply.
– Variability in snow levels and its impacts.
– Effects of drought in the western United States.
– Water usage statistics and main concerns.
3. Current Challenges
– Impact of drying bodies of water (Colorado River, Great Salt Lake, Lake Powell).
– The role of agriculture in water consumption.
– Municipal and industrial water use insights.
4. Solutions and Strategies
– Water conservation efforts.
– Legislation such as SB 18.
– Agricultural Water Optimization Project.
– System Conservation Pilot Program.
– Potential for solar/wind farm rent as alternative land use.
5. Analysis and Recommendations
– Evaluate current policies and their effectiveness.
– Suggest new initiatives or improvements to existing programs.
– Consideration of economic, environmental, and social factors.
6. Conclusion
– Summary of key points.
– Call to action for stakeholders.
– Future outlook for water management in Utah.
Would you like to see the next part of the outline?
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Addressing Utah’s water challenges requires a multi-faceted approach. Prioritizing water conservation is critical, given that over 95% of Utah’s water is sourced from snowpack, which is becoming more variable (Troy Brosten). Implementing efficient irrigation techniques in agriculture, which consumes 80% of the state’s water, can significantly reduce water usage without compromising crop yields. The Agricultural Water Optimization Project is a step in this direction, saving 170 KAF annually through advanced irrigation technologies. Municipalities can enhance water savings by promoting xeriscaping and restricting lawn watering times. Legislative efforts like SB 18 offer innovative water rights solutions, allowing farmers to “rent” water to the Great Salt Lake.
What intrigues you most about the water conservation strategies: agricultural optimization, legislative approaches, or municipal initiatives? Or perhaps something else entirely? Let’s dive deeper and make a splash in your research!
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Outline 1: Traditional Research Paper Structure
Introduction
- Define the problem: “How can Utah ensure enough water to both municipalities and farmers?”
- Brief overview of the importance of water management in Utah.
Background
- Source of Utah’s water: “95% of Utah’s water comes from snow.”
- Discuss the variability in snowfall and its implications.
Current Water Challenges
- Utah’s ranking as the second driest state.
- The impact of drying bodies of water like the Great Salt Lake and Colorado River.
Agricultural Water Use
- “80% of water used for ag.”
- Analysis of agricultural water consumption and its inefficiencies.
Municipal and Industrial Water Use
- Major uses of water in urban areas.
- Discuss strategies like SB 18 and the Agricultural Water Optimization Project.
Solutions and Recommendations
- Potential for water conservation and optimization.
- Evaluate policies like the System Conservation Pilot Program.
Conclusion
- Summarize the key points and suggest a path forward for water management in Utah.
Affordances:
This outline provides a clear, structured approach that is easy for readers to follow. It presents information in a logical order, from identifying the problem to suggesting solutions.
Outline 2: African American English Rhetorical Patterns
Introduction: The Question of Water
- Pose the central question: “How can Utah ensure enough water to both municipalities and farmers?”
- Set the tone with a rhetorical question or powerful quote: “The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest.”
Background: A Story of Snow and Scarcity
- Discuss the role of snow in Utah’s water supply: “95% of Utah’s water comes from snow.”
- Recursion: “We are getting less/more variable snow… less water puts Utah at risk.”
Water Scarcity: A Recurring Crisis
- Parallelism: “Colorado dying, Great Salt Lake dying, Lake Powell dying.”
- Anaphora: “The drought, the drying, and the demands—it’s all connected.”
Agricultural and Municipal Water Use: Two Sides of the Same Coin
- Topic association: Link agricultural water use with municipal challenges.
- Recursion: “80% of water used for ag… 20% used for municipal and industrial.”
Solutions: A New Way Forward
- Highlight innovative programs: “On March 13, 2024, the Utah legislature passed Senate Bill 18…”
- Anaphora: “Invest in better water tracking, invest in optimization, invest in our future.”
Conclusion: Shared Responsibility
- Circle back to Lady Bird Johnson’s quote: “The environment is where we all meet.”
Affordances:
This outline uses rhetorical patterns to create a narrative flow, making connections between topics. It engages the reader through repetition and parallelism, driving home the urgency of the issue.
Outline 3: Problem-Solution Structure
Introduction
- Present the primary question: “How can Utah ensure enough water to both municipalities and farmers?”
- State the significance of water management.
Problem: Water Scarcity in Utah
- Discuss the reliance on snow for water supply.
- Highlight the impact of drought on water resources.
Analysis of Water Use
- Detail the distribution of water use between agriculture and urban areas.
- Present data and statistics on current water consumption.
Solutions and Strategies
- Overview of existing policies like SB 18 and the Agricultural Water Optimization Project.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of these solutions.
Recommendations for Improvement
- Suggest additional measures for water conservation and management.
- Discuss potential for technological advancements and policy changes.
Conclusion
- Summarize key findings and emphasize the need for collective action.
Affordances:
This outline focuses on identifying the problem and directly linking it to potential solutions. It provides a straightforward approach that highlights what can be done to improve water management.
Now that you’ve got a trio of tantalizing outlines to ponder over, what you gonna do? Each one dances to a different beat, appealing to diverse audiences and perspectives. Choose the one that sings to your soul, or mix and match to create your own masterpiece.
Sketch out a plan for reorganizing your text, step-by-step, and let me know which direction you’re heading. Is there anything else you want to tackle as you revise? Let’s get this paper flowing like a mighty river!
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