By Amelia Killpack
Brown patches on a green lawn usually require extra watering, but with the worst drought in 21 years, Utah”s prudence will be put to the test.
“Don”t fire up your sprinklers just to fix one dry spot,” said Randy Julander, snow survey supervisor for the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Conservation is the key, and Julander is concerned that although snow packs are high due to recent snowstorms, spring run-off will be very low.
Severe dry soil is expected to seep up to 50 percent of the snowmelt in some areas, said Julander. Only the leftovers will make it into the river reservoirs that Utahns need.
In the Santa Clara area, runoff will be less that 20 percent of the average. “They basically aren”t going to get any runoff at all,” Julander said.
“Agriculture will take the brunt of the drought,” Julander said. Water supplies are the lowest since the 60s in some parts of the states and crops are suffering.
“Farmers have drawn on reservoirs for 2 years, and we can”t rely on them for another year,” said Mark Petersen, UFBF director of water quality programs.
There is not water to generate foliage for the cattle in the state. Instead of letting livestock graze for grass, cattlemen are being forced to buy feed.
The drought may also get in the way of summer recreation.
Campfires will decrease while forest fires increase due to dead and dry trees. “Forests are also weakened because trees are so dry and more susceptible to insects,” Julander said.
Fisheries will also suffer because of rising water temperatures and less oxygen for the fish to breath said Julander.
Although spring warmth would be nice, sunshine is not what this state needs. “We need moisture in any form right now” he said.
Julander encourages residents to monitor their automatic sprinklers. “Sprinkers do not need to water as long in the spring and fall as they do in the summer.” Julander said. Lawns don”t require as much moisture in the spring.
“Just remember we”re in a drought and don”t waste water,” Peterson said. “That”s the biggest way residents can help.”
