Covering the Colorado River was the most challenging and rewarding assignment I’ve taken on. The first night, after motoring 50 miles or so down the river, we all sat around a campfire, introducing ourselves and getting to know who our tent neighbors were a little bit better.
I couldn’t believe the amount of knowledge that surrounded me on that little campsite in the middle of nowhere. So many people with different expertise had dedicated their careers to the health of this river that is considered the lifeline of the West, and I was lucky enough to be among them.
That’s one of the best things about being a journalist. I’m constantly finding myself in situations I never would have otherwise, providing opportunities to learn how people find purpose and how they use it to contribute to society. A year ago, I couldn’t have defined sediment, but last month, I found myself knee-length deep in it, learning about its impact on a water source that is relied upon by nearly 40 million people.
At the end of the trip, sitting around the campfire, Jack Schmidt, program director for the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University, leaned over and told me that although millions depend on the Colorado River, only about 300 people worldwide care about it, and 27 of them were sitting around the campfire with me.
Given the many human-induced pressures the Colorado River has endured, it deserves a greater number of dedicated stewards.
Read on to learn more about why the Colorado River matters.
Will Lake Powell become Lake Mud? Inside the growing sediment crisis
So what exactly is sediment, what does it have to do with the Colorado River and why should we care?
What is sediment?
Sediment is the walled mold in which the Colorado River is contained.
Why is sediment a concern with the Colorado River?
Sediment has always been there, but historic droughts like in 2002 and 2020 have caused the lifeline of the West to reach alarming levels, exposing the mud.
Before the water is potable, it’s brown and murky.
“The Colorado got its name from the color. Colorado means colored red in Spanish. That red color comes from suspended sediment floating down,” Davide Ippolito, Returning Rapids researcher and OARS river guide on the trip, told the Deseret News.
Why should we care?
The mud is being trapped above the dam, depriving the river below, and suffocating it above. Approximately 40 million people depend on the Colorado River across seven U.S. states, two Mexican states and numerous reservations.
Are there solutions on the horizon?
There have been solutions proposed, including reconstructing the Glen Canyon Dam, targeted dredging and the most controversial suggestion — remove the dam itself.
Read more about how sediment is filling Lake Powell at an alarming rate, and you can also read more about how the Colorado River is in a custody battle with seven states.
More in Utah
Another 'beneficial' storm heads to Utah after drought intensity picked up in October (KSL)
Utah wildlife officials to drivers: Watch out for deer as daylight saving time ends (KSL)
Salt Lake County’s life sciences industry generates billions in economic output (Utah Policy)
Nonprofit offers residents affordable sweat-equity home ownership in Washington County (St. George News)
Jordan River Trail reopens through Salt Lake City's Fairpark neighborhood (Salt Lake City Weekly)
In advance of the school’s high-stakes rivalry game, presidents, coaches and alumni heads at both universities talk about their mutual respect and shared excitement for ... a joint project to feed the hungry?
The teams are joining alumni and student leaders in an effort to channel some of the passion of their fanbases into gathering funds and food for families in need this holiday.
The tradition of a food drive during football season goes back over 30 years — with one of the state’s oldest non-profits, the Utah Food Bank, fighting hunger as long as the Utah v. BYU football rivalry (120 years). They do this through a network of 270 partner agencies, including emergency food pantries, rehab facilities, shelters, school pantries and congregate feeding sites such as soup kitchens.
“This is a small way that we can leverage the passion of our friends and fans toward a real need in our community,” says Michael Johanson, Director of BYU Alumni Services.
Doing service together is a reminder that we do better together, and that spirit of kindness hopefully translates into this coming election and rivalry week.
Here is what some of the leaders said:
BYU coach Kalani Sitake: “If it weren’t for Utah, I wouldn’t be here. And if it weren’t for BYU, coach Whit wouldn’t be at Utah” (Whittingham played football for BYU between 1978 and 1981).
Joint message from Utah President Taylor Randall and BYU President Shane Reese: The two university presidents accentuated a message of civility in a video shared on X encouraging fans on both sides, “don’t let competition get in the way of your common humanity.”
Read more about why BYU and Utah are doing a service project together.
Packed with behind-the-scenes insights from players like Robbie Bosco and Kelly Smith, game-by-game highlights, and more, this collector's edition is your all-access pass to one of college football's most legendary seasons. Get your copy today and celebrate the triumphs of the 1984 BYU Cougars!
Health
25% of adults say they’re experiencing ‘electsomnia’: 3 simple ways to get better sleep now and after the election day (CNBC)
You might be overdoing it on protein and not getting enough of another vital nutrient, dietitians say (Fortune Well)
Working out just 1 or 2 days per week can boost your brain health (Healthline)
Online Yoga Classes Can Ease Lower Back Pain (Health Day)
Faith
Orchestra at Temple Square celebrates 25th anniversary (Church News)
New president of Christian college coalition will continue to work with BYU, Latter-day Saints (Deseret News)
Israel-Gaza-Lebanon live updates: Lebanese citizen 'kidnapped' by Israeli operatives (ABC News)
Montana man arrested for murder wrongly reported as bear attack (BBC)
Sports
9 snaps to glory: The unsung hero who ignited spark for Beck-to-Harline (Deseret News)
Why BYU winning the Big 12 cross country title was a stunning development (Deseret News)
This highly-touted legacy recruit has committed to BYU (Deseret News)
BYU football: Mathematically, Saturday couldn’t have gone better for the Cougars — the last undefeated Big 12 team (Deseret News)
USU volleyball dominates in historic win against Nevada (The Utah Statesman)
BYU football's 100th season: Ranking the Cougars' top 10 QBs of all time (The Daily Universe)
Women’s basketball opens season against Utes (SUU News)
Expanding sports infrastructure: win for St. George economy (Sun News)
High school football: 6A/5A/4A/3A/2A/1A state tournament scores and schedules (Deseret News)
Entertainment
Kristin Chenoweth gets ‘emotional’ after watching the new ‘Wicked’ film ... but is she in it? (Deseret News)
Review: The magic of ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ (Deseret News)
Actor Alan Rachins, Known for L.A. Law and Dharma & Greg, Dies at 82 (People)
🗓️ Events Calendar
We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah the next month. Check it out and let us know if we are missing anything!
Here are some highlights for events in Utah today:
Moab Folk Festival | Moab
Ana Gabriel | Delta Center
“The Woman in Black” | Parker Theatre, Salt Lake City
U of U women’s tennis at San Diego | TBA
USU women’s soccer — Mountain West Tournament
UVU men’s soccer at California Baptist | 6 p.m.
Utah Tech men’s soccer vs. UNLV at home | 1:30 p.m.
Utah Tech women’s soccer vs. Seattle University - WAC Tournament | 6 p.m.
Please reach out to me at sgambles@deseretnews.com if you have any thoughts, feedback or ideas you would like to share!
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