Also worth noting that the Colorado River commissioners for the Upper Basin agreed to mediation to try to strike a deal on managing the river. It's like going to "couples therapy" for seven states! www.fox13now.com/news/colorad... #utpol #Utah
BREAKING NEWS: Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico agree to release up to 1 million acre-feet from Flaming Gorge to prop up Lake Powell and prevent system collapse along the Colorado River that supplies water for 40 million people in the West: www.fox13now.com/news/colorad... #utpol #Utah
State air quality officials are obviously pleased with the decision. They say Utah shouldn't be held accountable for pollutants outside our borders and it doesn't mean we don't have to comply with the Clean Air Act: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah
The Trump administration wants to rescind a determination that held Utah to a higher standard for ozone pollution along the Wasatch Front. Environmentalists say it doesn’t solve the problem of air pollution here: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah
The vote is cast and the Upper Basin states (Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico) approve the drought plan that includes the releases from Flaming Gorge.
"We recognize action is needed quickly to avert system failure," Colorado River Commissioner for Wyoming Brandon Gebhart says. #utpol #Utah
"The rhetoric DOESN'T help," Mitchell says of Lower Basin states.
She supports a consensus deal, and says "we are in a desperate situation."
#utpol #Utah
"Uses in the Lower Basin exceed the supply provided by the river," Mitchell says. She says it's a math problem, not a legal problem.
We are on the brink, she warns. She says she'll support mediation. #utpol #Utah
Mitchell says they're making cuts because of the hydrology. Water rights holders are facing cuts back to levels that pre-date Colorado River agreements.
She accuses Lower Basin states aren't acknowledging the water shortages, instead threats of lawsuits and demand from more. #utpol #Utah
"We'll continue to bust our asses," Gebhart says of negotiations, calling on everyone to drop the rhetoric and come up with actual solutions.
He's open to mediation.
Colorado's Becky Mitchell says "we're on the front lines of climate change and we're feeling the hydrology first." #utpol #Utah
Shawcroft says this is people's lives we're talking about in this drought.
Wyoming's Brandon Gebhart says his state has already started restrictions, shutting off water access.
"I still want to be part of a solution," he says, calling for other states to set aside legal posturing. #utpol #Utah
Shawcroft says this drought plan shows their willingness to do the work.
He acknowledges people are worried about Utah and Wyoming (Flaming Gorge in particular).
"I want to make darn sure people understand... Utah specifically we are in desperate situation." #utpol #Utah
A mediator has not been tried before (unless you count the Interior Department trying to do it) so maybe it's worth a shot?
Utah's Gene Shawcroft echoes his push for a seven state solution "that's still much better than any alternative." #utpol #Utah
"The stakes have never been higher," Lopez says. "We continue to remain engage or try to remain engaged and open to a consensus."
Lopez calls for "a mediated process," recognizing that it's "way late." Every state doesn't want litigation, so put money where their mouth is. #utpol #Utah
Becky Mitchell, the Colorado River Commissioner for Colorado, is presiding.
Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming are participating. They've got to sign off on the releases (and it's expected they will).
New Mexico's Estevan Lopez says he's frustrated the states can't reach a deal. #utpol #Utah
HAPPENING NOW: The Upper Colorado River Commission is holding a special meeting to discuss the drought plan that includes the releases from Flaming Gorge to prop up Lake Powell.
Interior officials and tribal leaders are also participating in the virtual meeting. #utpol #Utah
Lake Powell is currently at 24% capacity.
Lake Mead is at 36% capacity.
Colorado River system is 36% full.
#utpol #Utah
Hydrology update! TLDR? Bad, bad, BAD!
We are setting records for low snowpack, hotter temperatures, upper Colorado River watershed in extreme drought.
Looking forward? Temperatures are more normal and a chance for precipitation! That's good, before it goes above normal again. #utpol #Utah
But more are interested, so the Colorado River Authority is going to re-open the program to see if there's any more nibbles. Local irrigation company says that's fine.
DNR director Joel Ferry asks about the 3 that withdrew? Mid-size farms. #utpol #Utah
Colorado River Authority of Utah's Marc Stilson has an update on the "demand management program," which is paying farmers not to grow crops. 3 dropped out because of hydrologic shortages.
Background: www.fox13now.com/news/colorad... #utpol #Utah
Secretary Burgum met with governors last week to discuss the Colorado River. All seven states agreed a states-led deal is better, but still no agreement.
"It appears to be more and more difficult to get to that point," Shawcroft concedes.
#utpol #Utah
"I do not want to minimize any impact," Shawcroft says of the Daggett Co. economy.
But we're talking about the entire Colorado River system in a significant drought.
"The drought is just absolutely crippling across our entire state and the West for that matter," he says. #utpol #Utah
There's no water in Blue Mesa and Navajo reservoirs to take, Shawcroft says. Flaming Gorge is it.
A reminder: A not-so-insignificant chunk of Colorado River water? Is the Wasatch Front's drinking water supply via the Central Utah Project. #utpol #Utah
"Whether they get better or whether they get worse, we're hoping they get better," Shawcroft says of the water situation.
But this plan COULD also fight off claims Upper Basin states aren't meeting their water obligations to Lower Basin states, he says. That avoids lawsuits (maybe). #utpol #Utah
We are, essentially, robbing Peter to pay Powell (and keep it generating power for millions). Upper Colorado River Commission votes this afternoon on drought plan. ALL states will take cuts, I'm told.
Utah's CO River Commissioner Gene Shawcroft says they'll adopt a plan that's monitored monthly.
At the Colorado River Authority of Utah meeting and I keep hearing words like "uncharted territory," "unprecedented" and "serious drought" to describe the water situation.
Bureau of Reclamation ordered releases up to 1M acre-feet from Flaming Gorge: www.fox13now.com/news/colorad... #utpol #Utah
"While this swarm is not evidence of an impending volcanic eruption, the plumbing of the ancient volcanic system in the Black Rock Desert is still active."
The Great Millard County Volcano was not on my 2026 bingo card, Utah.
The April 2026 Kanosh, Utah Earthquake Swarm On the morning of April 19, 2026, residents in southern Millard County experienced a series of small earthquakes. While earthquakes often spark concern about a larger disaster, seismologists identify these specific events as an earthquake swarm—a common but fascinating geological phenomenon tied to Utah’s tectonic history. What is an Earthquake Swarm? Unlike a typical earthquake, which starts with one large "mainshock" followed by smaller aftershocks, a swarm is a cluster of many small-to-moderate earthquakes that occur in a short window of time without a single dominant event. Think of a standard earthquake like a "snap" of a dry twig. A swarm is more like a bag of popcorn—many small pops occurring rapidly as energy is released in increments across a wide area. The Kanosh Swarm - Facts Start Time: Sunday, April 19, 2026, at approximately 5:45 a.m. MDT. Total Events: As of April 20, at least 32 earthquakes have been recorded in this swarm. Largest Event: A magnitude 3.6 quake recorded at 8:43 a.m. Location: Roughly 8 miles south of Kanosh and 18 miles south of Fillmore, directly east of the Black Rock Desert. Why Did This Earthquake Swarm Occur Here? The location of this swarm is not accidental. This earthquake swarm occurred along the eastern margin of the Basin and Range Province. This zone of earthquake activity is also called the Intermountain Seismic Belt, and it stretches down the spine of Utah. In this region, the earth's crust is thinning and stretching in an east-west direction, causing the crust to break and shift along faults and producing earthquakes in the process. It also occurred along the eastern side of the Black Rock Desert volcanic field, a region known as being the youngest volcanic area in Utah. While this swarm is not evidence of an impending volcanic eruption, the plumbing of the ancient volcanic system in the Black Rock Desert is still active. Its possible earthquake swarms in this area are trig…
INBOX: The Utah Geological Survey releases more info about the swarm of 32 (so far) earthquakes recorded near Kanosh... #utpol #Utah
ICYMI, 19 cities across Utah could transition their entire electricity supply to 100% net renewable energy sources, if their councils pass an ordinance by June: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah
The Public Service Commission approved the Community Clean Energy Program last month and groups like @healutah.bsky.social are urging people in 19 communities like Ogden, Cottonwood Heights, SLC, Midvale & Moab to adopt ordinances by the June 2 deadline: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah
