Ever heard of the S.S. Sho Boat? Created in the early 1900’s, this flat-bottomed boat held upwards of 200 passengers, with a full kitchen, orchestra and dance floor! This boat was a central part of leisure in the valley for several decades and we share details of just how loved it was to the residents.

Links from this Episode:

Utah Lake Legacy, online PDF of the book

Utah Lake Legacy on YouTube

June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program website

In this episode, we cover 5 things to do during fall at Utah Lake, including: photography, sailing, trails, fishing and waterfowl hunting. We share lots of helpful information and useful links (included below) as well as some of our favorite smartphone apps that will contribute to a great experience at the lake!

Links from this episode:

Farmer’s Almanac forecast for November

Utah Lake current water levels

1. Photography

Ep. 32 – Utah Lake Photo Club

Photo Club Facebook group

Photo club Instagram profile

Utah Lake annual photo contest info

2. Sailing

Bonneville School of Sailing website

Timpanogos Yacht Club Facebook group

Lindon Marina website

3. Trails

Utah Lake Trail plan interactive map

Ep. 4 – Walkara Way Conservation Project

Ep. 34 – Provo River Delta Features Starting to Take Shape

4. Fishing

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Fishing Guidebook

Reasons to go fall fishing

5. Waterfowl Hunting

Ep. 30 – 5 Things you Need to Know about Waterfowl Hunting at Utah Lake

Public access points map

**Smartphone apps discussed:

DWR Hunting/Fishing app

Windy Lookout app

MyRadar

Windy.com

Be4UFly

My Sunset

Utah Lake Instagram account

Melissa Stamp with the Mitigation Commission updates us on the construction of the Provo River Delta Restoration Project. In 4 1/2 months, they've accomplished a LOT! They've excavated 1 mile of new river channels, 4 new ponds, 5 wetland areas; removing about 60,000 cubic yards of material...that's enough to cover 28 football fields!

Listen in to hear about the 2020 construction results, lessons learned, cool bits of technology being used and more!

Links from this episode:

Provo River Delta project website

Ep. 07 - Provo River Delta Starts Construction 

How much do you know about the history of Utah Lake? Did you know that if you looked at a pre-1850's map of the area, Timpanogos doesn't even show up as a landmark? So why is "Timp" such a big part of society and Utah Lake isn't? In this episode, the Commission summarizes the reasons why based on a book, On Zions Mount by Jared Farmer. 

Utah Valley was originally known as "Utah Lake Valley". The lake was central to survival and to society, but all of that has changed. Listen in and you'll be left pondering how that change occurred.

Links from This Episode:

On Zions Mount book

Did you know there was a photo club at Utah Lake? We interviewed some of the photo club members talking about the club and why they love Utah Lake. The Utah Lake photo club was started 4 years ago by a small group of photography enthusiasts, of varying skills, who love Utah Lake. The club provides regular education classes on various photography topics, and also enjoys photo outings, when appropriate (i.e. not much during the pandemic). Listen in to learn about the appreciation photographers have for Utah Lake.

Links from this Episode:

Facebook Group for the photo club

Photo Club Instagram account

What is being done to address algae blooms at Utah Lake? Erica Gaddis, Director of Utah’s Division of Water Quality and Eric Ellis, Executive Director of the Utah Lake Commission discuss the efforts to rid Utah Lake of algae blooms through the Utah Lake Water Quality Study. Listen in as Erica updates us on where the research is at, the management goals for improving the lake’s water quality and more. Both director’s provide answers to the following questions:

Why does the lake need a water quality study?

What will be the outcome of the study?

How will cost of implementation be considered?

Links from this Episode:

Utah Lake Water Quality Study webpage

Utah Division of Water Quality (DWQ) home page

Special guest Derek Murdock, an avid waterfowl hunter who also works at Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, talks about 5 things you should know before waterfowl hunting at Utah Lake this season. Duck season opens on Oct 3 this year, and this podcast episode will get you all caught up on hunting this fall. Where to hunt, the Utah Waterfowl Slam, projects to improve habitat and access and more!

*Make sure to listen to the end, we answer questions that were submitted in two waterfowl hunting Facebook Groups.

Links from This Episode:

Utah Lake public access points map

Utah DWR 2020-21 Waterfowl Guidebook

Utah Waterfowl Slam info

Lessons Learned by a First-Time Duck Hunter

Windy Lookout

HABS.utah.gov

The Utah Lake Commission is excited to announce a life jacket drive to gather life jackets and monetary donations to support a new loaner program in partnership with the families of Priscilla Bienkowski and Sophia Hernandez. Priscilla and Sophia were two dear friends who tragically lost their lives this summer while recreating at Utah Lake earlier this year. This program will provide life jackets at public access points around Utah Lake. The life jacket drive will start Wednesday, September 30 and run until Wednesday, October 7th.

Listen in to learn more about the life jacket drive and loaner program and other efforts to improve water safety at Utah Lake, past, present and future.

Links from this episode:

Donate Online!

Life Jacket Drive donation locations

Windy Lookout app

Utah State Parks Boating Safety

How to Enjoy Utah Lake, Safely blog post

Ever wondered why Utah Lake water levels are so low? Drought is one of the largest contributors to lake levels, setting that aside, there are four main reasons why water levels fluctuate. First, upstream water use that reduces the amount of inflow to the lake. Second, changes in the lake outlet, which controls how much water flows out. Third, use of the lake as a storage reservoir, which affects storage and withdrawals. Fourth, evaporation of the water in Utah Lake is a significant factor to lake levels.

**Featuring a clip from a 09/17/20 presentation from Central Utah Water on current weather conditions and their impact on water levels.

Links from this Episode:

Understanding Water Levels at Utah Lake, blog post

Tom Bruton, full CUWCD presentation

Water levels chart and LIVE water levels link

CUWCD website

*This episode is a follow-up to EP. 24 - Wake Up Thinking of Utah Lake with Lewis Billings, where we discussed the history and formation of the Commission. 

Utah Lake Commission Executive Director Eric Ellis shares details on the membership and makeup of the Commission, discusses in detail each of the five Utah Lake Commission objectives and why partners are invested in their work with the Commission. The goal of this episode is to help listeners understand the Utah Lake Commission and how it works to protect, enhance and promote Utah Lake as the amazing natural resource that it is.

Utah Lake Commission Objectives:

1. Encourage and promote multiple uses of the lake

Links from this Episode:

About the Utah Lake Commission

Utah Lake Projects page

Volunteer Opportunities