Rising Temperatures Challenge Salt Lake City’s Water Supply

Sensitivity study helps the City, others in the Intermountain West, plan for the future

In an example of the challenges water-strapped Western cities will face in a warming world, new research shows that every degree Fahrenheit of warming in the Salt Lake City region could mean a 1.8 to 6.5 percent drop in the annual flow of streams that provide water to the city.

By midcentury, warming Western temperatures may mean that some of the creeks and streams that help slake Salt Lake City’s thirst will dry up several weeks earlier in the summer and fall, according to the new paper, published today in the journal Earth Interactions. The findings may help regional planners make choices about long-term investments, including water storage and even land-protection policies. Continue reading →

Give Hope, Opportunity & Training to New Farmers

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Photo: Shawn Peterson

The Green Urban Lunch Box, a project of the Community Foundation of Utah, is preparing to launch an incubator farm in the spring of 2014.

An incubator farm offers urban farmers access to land on which they can start their own growing operations with guidance from experienced farmers. The Green Urban Lunchbox’s planned incubator farm is located in Layton, UT on an old fruit orchard leased from the Utah Department of Transportation.

Continue reading →

Have a Green Halloween!

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Photo Credits via Flickr: Paul Stein, Nick Thompson, Steven Depolo & Pamela Link.

Happy Halloween, Salt Lake City!

Tonight, think outside the candy bag with some creative ideas from Green Halloween.

A few of our favorites:

  • Crayons
  • Acorns
  • Honey sticks
  • Fruit snacks or fruit leather
  • Feathers
  • Mini granola bars

Check out the full list at GreenHalloween.org.

This Electric Bus Charges On-The-Go

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Get ready to be amazed by some local ingenuity…

This one-of-a-kind electric bus is capable of charging itself through wireless induction technology!

The electric “Aggie Bus” uses a high power, high efficiency wireless power transfer system that is capable of transferring enough energy to quickly charge the vehicle on an air gap of up to 10 inches.

In practical terms, this electric bus charges itself instantly, and at every stop. Plus the vehicle has zero emissions!

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Utah’s New Air Quality Alerts

Say goodbye to the basic Green, Yellow and Red air quality days!

Utah’s Division of Air Quality has updated their air quality alert system to more clearly and precisely communicate about action days and health alerts related to Utah’s air quality.

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Community Improvement Grants Available

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Salt Lake City has allocated $187,000 in grants for community nonprofits, neighborhood groups, and neighborhood business districts as part of the Community Improvement and Outreach Grant program.

This grant program is designed to quickly and efficiently improve the quality of Salt Lake City’s communities and neighborhoods.

With the help of residents and local organizations, these funds can be used towards public safety projects, recreation and education projects, sustainability projects, neighborhood improvements, neighborhood-school partnerships, local project developments, and more.

Applications will be accepted November 1-December 2, 2013 and are available online.

The Challenge of the 100 Mile Meal

This evening, Salt Lake City Green and Mayor Ralph Becker will host the 100 Mile Meal: Food with a Salt Lake City Story. The meal represents a celebration of Salt Lake City’s local food, farms and economy, while illustrating a commitment to sustainable agriculture.

Did you know the average meal in the United States travels 1,500 miles from the farm to your plate? Food that travels long distances impacts:

  • Environment. A larger carbon footprint due to fuel consumption and polluting emissions.
  • Food Security. Limited accountability due to large processing and distribution chains leaves food more vulnerable to contamination.
  • Nutrition. Fruits and veggies are most nutritious (and delicious!) when they are fresh.
  • Economy. Local farms mean more local jobs and revenue.

The 100 Mile Meal features seasonal ingredients sourced from farms within 100 miles of Mayor Becker’s office. In this day and age, this was no easy feat.

Continue reading →

Do you have Food $ense?

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Food Day is in full swing in Salt Lake City!

Join the Utah State University Extension for two informative Food $ense classes this month:

New Foods, New Ways

Wednesday, October 23 from noon to 1 p.m.
2001 South State Street, South Building (S-1010)

Healthy Sweets

Wednesday, October 30 from 7-8 p.m.
West Jordan Library (8030 S 1825 W)

Walk ins are welcome, or you can register online.

Film Screening: The City Dark

Thursday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Broadway Centre Cinemas (111 E 300 S)
Suggested donation of $5-10

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1fTkF8PIu0&w=560&h=315]

Join KUED and the Utah Society for Environmental Education for a FREE film screening of The City Dark.

Is darkness becoming extinct?

When filmmaker Ian Cheney moves from rural Maine to New York City and discovers streets awash in light and skies devoid of stars, he embarks on a journey to America’s brightest and darkest corners, asking astronomers, cancer researchers and ecologists what is lost in the glare of city lights.

Blending a humorous, searching narrative with poetic footage of the night sky, The City Dark provides a fascinating introduction to the science of the dark and an exploration of our relationship to the stars.

A panel discussion will follow.

Winter Farmers Market Arrives Nov 9

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Although the Downtown Farmers Market is in its final days of the season, another farmers market is on the horizon for Salt Lake City residents.

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and the Downtown Alliance recently announced the arrival of a new Winter Farmers Market that will take up residence in the Rio Grande Depot.

Opening day is scheduled for Saturday, November 9. The Winter Farmers Market will take place every other Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through April 26.

Officials are heralding this as an important step towards a year round market, similar to those seen in Seattle, Portland and Madison, Wisconsin.

Roughly 50 vendors are slated to participate, offering fresh produce, meat, bread, honey, eggs and other items.