Scientists say a swath of the western United States is in the midst of a persistent, decades-long ‘megadrought.’ Utah is far drier today than it was one year ago at the start of the record-breaking 2020 fire season. Researchers with the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service say that water managers in the state “should prepare for exceptionally poor to (potentially) worst-on-record water supply conditions for this summer.”
In March, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency due to the dry conditions and soon after that Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall placed Utah’s capital city under a water shortage advisory.
Today on “In the Hive,” we delve into extreme drought, water conservation and the tinder-box West.
Guests:
Jordan Clayton, Supervisor, Utah Snow Survey, NRCS
Laura Briefer, Director, SLC Dept. of Public Utilities
Chris Delaney, BLM State Fire Management Officer
Know before you go. Visit utahfireinfo.gov to see up-to-date information on fire restrictions on your public lands.
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1 Comments
As a former New Jersey firefighter living here in Utah, I’m still amazed it’s not against some kind of law to flick lit cigarettes out the window while driving. In a drought? Really? It’s not common sense?