Category: Watershed Protection

Read the ReportThe Division of Water Quality worked with Animas Environmental Services to conduct an E. coli analysis in the San Juan River watershed. The study relied on existing monitoring data collected under EPA-approved quality assurance project plans. The consultant made the following recommendations based on its data analysis: Create a multijurisdictional protocol for collecting, assembling, and sharing E. coli datasets. Develop a regional or watershed E.

Our program develops plans to ensure clean water for drinking, recreation, fish and wildlife, and agriculture. We collaborate with stakeholders and partners, collect and analyze water quality and ecological data, identify pollution sources, and select projects and management practices to reduce pollution and restore waterways. We use total maximum daily load (TMDL) studies, nine-element watershed plans, and other planning mechanisms

The Division of Water Quality regularly monitors and assesses our streams and lakes to ensure their designated beneficial uses are supported. Beneficial uses include drinking water, recreation (swimming and boating), aquatic wildlife, and agricultural use (irrigation and stock watering). For more information on please refer to State of Utah’s 305b Report to Congress, individual watershed assessments and the 303d List

What is a TMDL?A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is the calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant allowed to enter a waterbody so that the waterbody will meet and continue to meet water quality standards for that particular pollutant. A TMDL determines a pollutant reduction target and allocates load reductions necessary to the source(s) of the pollutant.Download the

Thank you for your interest in the Jordan River TMDL process. This page is designed to keep the Salt Lake Valley community better informed about what is going on with the Jordan River. Please refer back frequently, as we will continue to keep this page updated with the most recent information.Current Documents Jordan River Research Synthesis (2016 – 2020) Phase

Utah’s Watershed Management Program is focused on protecting and restoring the water quality of our streams, lakes and ground water resources by employing the following key elements: Stewardship, Monitoring and Assessment, Coordination and Watershed Planning.

EPA and the states and tribes in the watershed have worked together to identify watershed-wide and state- and tribe-specific priorities to supplement previous and ongoing monitoring and assessment activities, enhance understanding of the condition of the San Juan watershed, and identify future opportunities for improving watershed protection. The 2017 WIIN Act appropriation ensures that EPA, states, and tribes have critical

The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) worked with the University of Utah to conduct a mining inventory and source identification study in the San Juan River watershed. The primary objective of the first study, Source Identification of Particulate Metals/Metalloids Deposited in the San Juan River Delta of Lake Powell, USA, was to differentiate mining and non-mining sources of contaminants in the

Sediment deposits accumulated in the San Juan River and Colorado River deltas of Lake Powell since completion of Glen Canyon Dam are known to contain mining-related sediment from the Upper Colorado River basin. Of particular interest are heavy metals from historic mining in the Upper Animas River watershed deposited in the San Juan River delta. Understanding the distribution, mass, and

San Juan River. Photo credit to slashvee. The Utah Division of Water Quality (DWQ) contracted with Tetra Tech to conduct ecological risk assessments in the San Juan River and Lake Powell to determine impacts from the Gold King Mine spill. The assessments were completed in 2018 and serve as a screening exercise to conservatively estimate potential risks to both humans and ecology from

After the Gold King Mine spill in 2015, the Utah Division of Water Quality (DWQ) collected data in the San Juan River Watershed and Lake Powell System to determine if metal concentrations and sediment loads pose a risk to the beneficial uses in the river. Designated beneficial uses for the San Juan River include: Drinking water Recreation Aquatic life Agriculture

The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) is working with other affected states and tribes in the San Juan Watershed on a long-term water quality monitoring program funded by Congress under the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. DWQ completed two studies in 2018 as part of its long-term monitoring program to assess impacts to Utah from the

The San Juan Watershed is vast, covering state and tribal lands over 7 jurisdictions in the Four Corners area including: Colorado, Southern Ute, New Mexico, Ute Mountain Ute, Navajo Nation, Utah, and Arizona. The San Juan River itself is approximately 355 miles long and originates in the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. It flows westerly into New Mexico and