Utah Rivers Council looks to protect economy and life
The Utah Rivers Council was started in 1995 to work on water and river issues. It is not just water and river conservation that the council is looking to save, it is the money that rivers generate for Utah.
“Rivers are intrinsically tied to the economies of both rural and urban Utah,” says Zachary Frankel, executive director.
The tourism industry benefits from activities like rafting, fishing and hunting. All of which are dependent on rivers.
“If you don’t have water, you don’t survive,” says Frankel. “We look at rivers as lifelines for generations of species.”
As part of the work on rivers, the council stresses efforts to conserve water.
“Utah is the most wasteful water user in the United States,” says Frankel. It is also the second most arid state.
According to Outreach Coordinator Alex Schmidt, about 70 percent of the water usage is outdoors.
Some of the conservation methods that the council recommends include:
The Utah Rivers Council offers advice on how to Xeriscape with the “Rip Your Strip” program.
This article was originally published at examiner.com. Links updated March 2017.
“Rivers are intrinsically tied to the economies of both rural and urban Utah,” says Zachary Frankel, executive director.
The tourism industry benefits from activities like rafting, fishing and hunting. All of which are dependent on rivers.
“If you don’t have water, you don’t survive,” says Frankel. “We look at rivers as lifelines for generations of species.”
As part of the work on rivers, the council stresses efforts to conserve water.
“Utah is the most wasteful water user in the United States,” says Frankel. It is also the second most arid state.
According to Outreach Coordinator Alex Schmidt, about 70 percent of the water usage is outdoors.
Some of the conservation methods that the council recommends include:
- Adjusting water sprinkler heads to the right height.
- Watering just three times a week.
- Xeriscaping when able. Xeriscaping transforms the landscape of a home from high water use plants to a home that uses plants that need no additional water than what is provided naturally.
The Utah Rivers Council offers advice on how to Xeriscape with the “Rip Your Strip” program.
This article was originally published at examiner.com. Links updated March 2017.