Factors Affecting Water Availability
Coal mining in
the Book Cliffs and Wasatch Plateau has been occurring since the
mid 1800s. Water has and will continue to be a precious commodity
in this semi-arid region of Utah. It has multiple uses including
wildlife use, domestic purposes, mining and industrial use, stock
watering, crop irrigation, and recreation. In the Wasatch Plateau,
grazing has been a historical use in the high mountain areas where
coal mining has been occuring.
Many combinations of factors affect water
availablity. Most predominant is weather. Periods of drought and
wet cycles can cause major changes in both surface and ground
water systems. Water falling on the land surface can either,
- runoff to streams,
- infiltrate to recharge ground water,
- evaporate from soil or
- evapo-transpirate from vegetation.
Surface topography, geology and vegetation all affect the ratio
of runoff to streams vs. ground water recharge. Land use and range
condition affect vegetation which influences the water availability.
Weather and Precipitation
Geology
Spring management
Grazing Practices
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