OCR Text |
Show minimum odor problems, control of noxious insects, and a minimum of floating debris. Identifying the remaining system characteristics desirable for recreational uses such as salinity levels and water depths are some of the research needs. Waterfowl is presently the major user of Farmington Bay. The Farmington Bay Bird Refuge and many private hunting clubs are located at the mouth of the Jordan River. Presently, the main concern of the wildlife system is the damage created by high water. Solutions of the high water problems for the entire lake should alleviate high water damages in the bay. However, the hydrologic interactions between the bay and the lake should be established to assess the effectiveness of elevation control measures for the main body of the lake in controlling the elevation of the bay. Physical system characteristics for waterfowl use of the bay deal mainly with the surface elevation. The desired surface elevation for waterfowl is at or below 4196 feet ( Rawley et al., 1974). This elevation allows the marsh lands to expand below the diked areas. Since botulism has been associated with anaerobic conditions and water level fluctuations, these would have to be considered undesirable system characteristics for the use. Research should be performed to identify additional system characteristics required for wildlife use. Intrusion of people into waterfowl areas creates a conflict between the recreational and wildlife use systems. If the water quality of the bay will allow development of both uses researchmay be appropriate on determining ways to avoid or reduce such conflicts. The control of the lake elevation below 4196 could have an impact on recreational uses of the bay. Researching the effect on recreation of holding the lake at a specific elevation would not be appropriate until it was determined if the characteristics of the present physical system were suitable for or could be manipulated to accommodate recreational uses. However, this does indicate that, like planning, research is •, an ongoing task. If it were determined that the physical characteristics of the bay could accommodate both recreation and wildlife uses, further research on each social use would be appropriate so that the impact, and thus the trade offs, of altering the system to accommodate a particular use could be assessed. Research needs identified for the social uses on Farmington Bay are given in Table 12. Physical System The proper understanding of the physical system provides the background required to test the feasibility of proposed uses of the bay, to ascertain how the bay might be altered to accommodate particular uses, and to assess the impacts between the physical system and the social use systems. Hydrologic System The componets of the water balance for Farmington Bay are the surface and groundwater inflows, precipitation, evaporation, and exchanges with the south arm of the lake. The main surface inflow to the bay is the Jordan River whose quality and quantity are documented. A current USGS basic data gathering project should help further in defining the surface inflows, precipitation, and evaporation from Farming- ton Bay. Identification of the groundwater inflow to the bay represents a research need. Free flow between the bay and the south arm of the lake occurs beneath a 30 meter clear span bridge in Antelope Island causeway and around the south end of Antelope Island. The flow at the south end of the island will be eliminated if the lake level recedes or if the causeway is rebuilt. However, this flow should not be ignored and the future of the causeway should be established. Depending on the future of the causeway it may be appropriate to gather flow data. Flow through the present Antelope Island causeway has not been studied. A two directional flow was observed through the culvert of an earlier causeway 49 Table 12. Research needs identified for the social uses of Farmington Bay. Research Needs Possible Information Source Group A Identify any potential uses of the bay in addition to recreation and wildlife. Physical system characteristics necessary for both fresh and salt water recreational uses. Physical system characteristics necessary for wildlife uses. Present physical system characteristics, particularly water quality. Recreational opportunities and associated facilities desired by potential users of the bay and the use intensities which would result if these facilities were provided. The study should include the public's desire for freshwater recreation in Farmington Bay. Economic analysis of various social uses of Farmington Bay. All state agencies DPR DWLR, FWS Weber 208 Study, DH, UGMS DPR, ISORT, UDOT UUBEBR, UWRL, BYU, UDOT DNR, DWR, DPR, DWLR, DSL, UGMS, DH |