Earth Day in Ogden, Utah
Earth day. Let’s check in on what’s going on within the 659 square miles of earth that we call weber county, Utah… the primary focus of Visit Ogden.
Hottest Summer On Record
In 2022, Utah recorded its hottest Summer since the National Weather Service started keeping records. For much of the last decade, the Beehive State has lingered in a state of drought. In fact, for 8 of the last 10 years, the State has hovered somewhere in the moderate-to-severe-to-extreme levels of drought, according to the agency.
Residents exercised water-saving measures throughout 2022…cutting back on watering of lawns and other landscaping, shortening showers, re-using linens between laundering, letting it mellow when it’s yellow, etc.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Ogden-Valley-Fall-Jay_Dash_Photography_DJI_0062-1-large_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=72514728cbf946719def6c02bdc2b00d 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Ogden-Valley-Fall-Jay_Dash_Photography_DJI_0062-1-large_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=db22d05a33d13cf3cfe4263b78e4ef4e 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Ogden-Valley-Fall-Jay_Dash_Photography_DJI_0062-1-large_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=2466e966345fda2d4a760742843b4333 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Ogden-Valley-Fall-Jay_Dash_Photography_DJI_0062-1-large_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=b9e42898b661a1751558e8e2d19d5057 800w)
Reservoirs dropped to some of their lowest levels ever, resulting in algae blooms that forced public health officials to order the closure of popular areas to boaters, paddlers, and swimmers. The world-famous Great Salt Lake shrunk to its lowest level in history and efforts to reverse the trend have become one of the primary topics of discussion in the state.
Utah’s first snowfall came on October 23rd. A bit more came on November 2nd, 5th, and 8th. On November 29th, the real storms started coming…and they haven’t stopped.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/snowbasinresort-Instagram-3471-ig-17974358710959103_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=197cd5fe7cfd4d8bf8b3a2443dec6916 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/snowbasinresort-Instagram-3471-ig-17974358710959103_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=3b15e70fa02c5209155fbc875ef848d2 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/snowbasinresort-Instagram-3471-ig-17974358710959103_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=39da409375fc11e22030558571321aed 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/snowbasinresort-Instagram-3471-ig-17974358710959103_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=94a4b324dcbd80b2e88f8c585db98ce9 800w)
Record Snowfall
The ’22-’23 ski season has broken every snowpack record in the book in levels of both depth and water content. All three of our area resorts have reported all-time-high snowfall totals, with Snowbasin gliding into the end of the season with more than 600 inches of snowfall and still counting.
Mountain snowpack is Ogden’s primary source of water, so a record-setting Winter in the midst of a decade-long drought has been celebrated. However, meteorologists, water managers, politicians, old timers, and climate models all warn that we’re not out of the woods yet. Water conservation efforts similar to last year will likely continue in an effort to rescue the nearby, shrinking Great Salt Lake, maintain crucial mountain reservoirs and replenish groundwater.
Such climate extremes in such a short span of time, from the hottest Summer to the most intense Winter ever recorded…all within a few, short months…should sound alarm bells and raise red flags, or at least eyebrows.
But Mother Nature isn’t done with us yet.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Snowpack_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=92c4a6b5384b37611b6a38bc203c3454 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Snowpack_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=eb9adb6dfd92577b0f49dffd11a3c455 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Snowpack_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=2928401884edff5f780b383eaac13dde 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Snowpack_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=23fb9fb72da3724c9dfaa83a230e380c 800w)
The Meltdown
Snowfall is different than snowpack. While some Utah ski resorts tout “snowfall” numbers in excess of 800” (that’s around 70 feet), water managers are more interested in closely measuring the actual water content contained in the “snowpack.” Currently, the Wasatch Mountains are holding nearly 30” of water…and as we celebrate Earth Day, Ogden-area run-off is just getting started.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you shake off that cabin fever and step outside to celebrate Earth in and around Ogden:
• Stay away from streams and rivers, especially with kids or pets.
The spectacle of record snowpack melting into raging rivers is captivating, but expanding river banks can be slippery and unstable. One wrong move can put you in flows so fast and powerful that there is simply no way of escaping.
• Stay off wet trails.
The rule of thumb is, if your boots, bike tires, or horse’s hooves are leaving noticeable imprints, find a drier trail. Early season trail damage can last for months. If you encounter short sections of wet trail on north-facing slopes or in deep canyons, go through the wet area and not around, in order to avoid widening the trail.
• Be careful in the canyons and on mountain roads.
We’re already seeing significant mud and rockslides on canyon roads and mountain passes. Slow your roll through these areas and exercise extra caution on blind corners in case you suddenly encounter unexpected chunks of Earth where they shouldn’t be.
For additional information on responsibly and sustainably enjoying the Ogden area, click here.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Flooded-River_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=848a9fd2d1e0b3308b7204e69273bceb 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Flooded-River_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=97bca3c5b4670406a2c7cce7a36ed531 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Flooded-River_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=4d1136848ce4574a0706bf7ca6825ab4 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/Flooded-River_3e6430add3bc82ebbe3813f3071b7d3a.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=52f8b6bb17151ae9b838de4aebeddb26 800w)
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