History

August 2015

Mountain Accord Charter Signed

Develop an Environmental Dashboard to provide accessible and factual information about the Wasatch
Part of the original agreed upon Mountain Accord Charter

April 2016

Project Begins

Environmental Dashboard Project kicks off with the Brendle Group leading the effort

2016

Project on Hold

Project put on hold while the Central Wasatch Commission forms and gets up and running

July 2019

Project Restarted

Project restarted with the University of Utah leading the new effort

November 2019

Phase 1

First report submitted

March 2020

Phase 2

Development of the dashboard started and then paused at the start of COVID

March 2021

Phase 2

Development restarted after COVID pause

March 2022

Phase 2

Beta version released for comment

April 2022

Initial Website Release

Public engagement begins

June 2022

Final Dashboard Release

Map

The boundaries for this environmental dashboard project are based on naturally occurring hydrologic units (or drainage areas) and are independent of an jurisdictional boundary. The map below shows the environmental dashboard boundary compared to the Central Wasatch Commission’s administrative boundary.

Data Resources

Air Quality

Geology and Soils

Vegetation Communities

Water

Wildlife

FAQ

Who is the audience for the Environmental Dashboard?

The Environmental Dashboard is a tool for the public, land managers, policy makers and technical users.The Dashboard is a data-rich, and technically credible tool that anyone can understand and use.

How will the Dashboard inform future planning and decision making?

The Environmental Dashboard provides a centralized location to access current and historical data for Air Quality and Climate, Geology and Soils, Vegetation Communities, Water, and Wildlife. Users can study current conditions, analyze historical trends. 

What data sets are being used?

The Environmental Dashboard features spatial data using Geographic Information System (GIS) and data visualization tools. The data sources are individually outlined and web links provided on the Data Resources page. All data sources used in the Environmental Dashboard are from existing data and no new data were collected.

How often will the data be updated?

The update schedule depends on the individual data set and how the authoritative data provider makes the data available.  Data sets that are provided as web services will update in near real time. Data sets that require download or data processing will be updated quarterly. Certain data sets that infrequently change (ex. soils) will be updated on an as needed basis.

How do I notify someone about missing or incomplete data?

Data does not exist for all of the Elements’ metrics and sub-metrics that the subject matter experts outlined as important. The current dashboard is built using existing data sets only that were identified by the subject matter experts or identified by the project team. Not all available data exist in a readily usable format. If there are data sets that were missed, please complete the “Provide Data Recommendations” form that is located in the footer of every web page. 

What about people and human activities in the mountains?

Utah State University is currently conducting a Visitor-Use Study of the Central Wasatch Mountains.  This Study will be completed in December 2022 and integrated into the Dashboard as a 6th element in 2023.

Acknowledgements

Project Team

University of Utah

The DIGIT Lab
Ehleringer Lab

Sageland Collaborative

Special Thanks

Extended to the US Forest Service which contributed to every subject area

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Air Quality and Climate

  • Bryce Bird, Utah Division of Air Quality
  • Royal Delegge, Salt Lake County Public Health
  • John Horel, University of Utah Atmospheric Sciences
  • Jon Lin, University of Utah Atmospheric Sciences
  • Kerry Kelly, University of Utah Chemical Engineering
  • Daniel Mendoza, University of Utah Atmospheric Sciences
  • Logan Mitchell, University of Utah Atmospheric Sciences

Geology and Soils

  • Steve Bowman, Utah Geological Survey
  • Marshall Robinson, Utah Geological Survey
  • Bir Thapa, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Vegetation Communities

  • Bill Anderegg, University of Utah, School of Biological Sciences
  • Barbara Bentz, Utah State University
  • Andrea Brunelle,  University of Utah, Geography
  • Phil Dennison, University of Utah, Geography
  • Eric McCulley, River Restoration
  • Diane Menuz, Utah Geological Survey

Water

  • Laura Briefer, Salt Lake City Public Utilities
  • Paul Brooks, University of Utah
  • Cass Goodman, NOAA, Colorado River Forecasting Center
  • Elise Hinman, Utah Division of Water Quality
  • Abi Holt, Sandy Public Utilities
  • Eric McCulley, River Restoration
  • Paul Miller, NOAA, Colorado River Forecasting Center
  • Mike Rau, Central Utah Water Conservancy District
  • Marian Hubbard Rice, Salt Lake City Public Utilities
  • Pat Shea, Friends of Alta
  • John Skalback, University of Wisconsin, Lakeside
  • Michelle Stokes, NOAA, Colorado River Forecasting Center
  • Sam Taylor, Salt Lake County
  • Bob Thompson, Salt Lake County

Wildlife

  • Buck Ehler, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources
  • Madeline Engel, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources
  • William Gray, University of Utah, School of Biological Sciences, Professor Emeritus
  • Austin Green, University of Utah, School of Biological Sciences
  • Allison Izaksonas, Natural History Museum of Utah
  • Sarah Lindsey, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources
  • Liz Moore, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources
  • Eric McCulley, River Restoration
  • Bill Newmark, Natural History Museum of Utah
  • Russ Norvell, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources
  • Mitchell Power, University of Utah, Geography/ Natural History Museum of Utah
  • Andrey Zharkikh, Plant photography
Contact

Please send all comments and questions to Lindsay Nielsen, Central Wasatch Commission, Lindsey@cwc.utah.gov

Disclaimer

Central Wasatch Commission Terms of Use

INFORMATION ON THE CENTRAL WASATCH COMMISSION’S ENVIRONMENTAL DASHBOARD IS MADE AVAILABLE AS A PUBLIC SERVICE, WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, AND IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMERS:

  1. ACCURACY, CHANGES, AND CONTINUITY OF SERVICE

The Central Wasatch Commission (CWC) tries to ensure that the information made available on the CWC Web sites is accurate and complete. Due to factors beyond the control of the CWC, however, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of information or errors made in inputting and posting data. The CWC may make changes to a Web page at any time to update, add, or correct the information made available. The CWC may suspend or discontinue making the information available.

  1. NO WARRANTIES

The CWC disclaims any express or implied warranties related to making its computer system available for public use, and for any materials, information, graphics, products, or processes contained within its computer system. It makes no warranty, express or implied, nor assumes any responsibility for the use of information on the CWC’s Web sites or computer system/s, or for the computer system’s fitness for any general or particular purpose. Nor does the CWC warrant that the use of information on the CWC’s system will not infringe or violate the rights of others. The public is granted access to information on the CWC’s computer system on a strictly “as is” basis. The CWC denies responsibility for the conduct of its users.

  1. SUBMISSIONS

Certain CWC websites invite users to submit content to CWC that CWC may include on CWC websites. In these circumstances, the CWC invites users to submit content solely for the purpose of identifying content that CWC can use to communicate CWC’s messages. The CWC Web sites are not a public forum and users should not expect that content submitted will be posted on the CWC websites. If the CWC chooses to post any content, it does so solely at its own discretion and for the purpose of communicating the messages of the CWC. The CWC exercises final approval authority over any content it chooses to post to the CWC Websites and may remove submitted content at any time at its discretion.

While the CWC may choose to post submitted content for the purpose of communicating the CWC’s messages, the CWC disclaims any responsibility for any information, materials, opinions, endorsements of products or services, or any other content located or made available on external sites.

  1. EXTERNAL LINKS; PERSONAL OPINIONS

The CWC may choose to provide hypertext or other links to non-CWC websites. As with circumstances where the CWC chooses to post content submitted by users, the CWC posts these links for the purpose of communicating the CWC’s messages. If the CWC chooses to provide a link to any non-CWC website, it does so solely at its own discretion. The CWC Website is not a public forum and users submitting links to the CWC should not expect that any link submitted will be posted on Utah.gov websites. Utah.gov exercises final approval authority over any links to non-Utah.gov websites it chooses to post and may remove links at any time at its discretion. While Utah.gov may provide a link to these sites for its own purpose of communicating the CWC messages, the CWC disclaims legal responsibility for any information, materials, opinions, endorsements of products or services, or any other content located or made available on external sites.No other sections of this disclaimer statement are applicable to external sites beyond the control of the State.

  1. COPYRIGHT LIMITATIONS

the CWC has made the content of certain pages of its Web sites available to the public. Anyone may view, copy, or distribute information found within these web pages (not including the design or layout of the pages) for personal or informational use without owing an obligation to the CWC if the documents are not modified in any respect, and unless otherwise stated on the particular materials or information to which a restriction on free use applies. The CWC makes no warranty, however, that the materials contained within these pages are free from copyright claims, or other restrictions or limitations on free use or display. The CWC disclaims any liability for the improper or incorrect use of information obtained from its Web sites.

  1. ASSUMPTION OF RISK OF USE

One who uses the information available for public use on the CWC’s computer system assumes the risk of using or relying on such information. Neither the CWC, its employees, nor its agents shall be liable for any damages, including indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages a user incurs as a result of viewing, distributing, or copying materials on the sites made available to the public, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

  1. MONITORING AND PROTECTING THE SYSTEM FROM INTRUSION

All CWC computer systems are subject to monitoring to assure proper functioning of the system and to provide security for the computer system’s operation. By using the computer systems you are consenting to the exercise of such monitoring practices. The CWC reserves the right to use any legally appropriate measures to prevent and investigate anyone attempting to modify, deface, delete, or otherwise tamper with or abuse a CWC Web site, server, database, information system, or other CWC technology asset.

  1. UTAH LAW AND JURISDICTION

The materials made available for public use on the CWC ‘s Web sites are for the use and benefit of the general public. Any person who uses these systems or attempts to gain access to information or materials on these systems is subject to the jurisdiction of the State of Utah. Any dispute arising from a person using or attempting to use information or materials on the CWC’s Web sites shall be determined in accordance with Utah laws and in the courts of Utah.