In a recent government meeting, officials discussed alarming trends in water flow and groundwater levels in the Clear Lake area, highlighting significant declines that could have far-reaching implications for the region's water resources. Since the mid-1990s, the flow at Clear Lake has decreased by approximately 500 acre-feet annually, with current measurements indicating only a couple hundred acre-feet flowing past a critical monitoring point, a stark contrast to historical levels that were in the tens of thousands.

The meeting featured insights from Alex Anderson, who presented data from a long-term USGS monitoring well, which has recorded water levels since the 1930s. The data reveals a marked decline in groundwater levels beginning in the 1950s, with a notable spike in the 1980s followed by a consistent downward trend. Recently, the groundwater depth has dropped below the well casing for the first time in the well's history, signaling a critical situation for local water supplies.

A comprehensive water level campaign conducted in spring 2022, synchronized with USGS efforts, aimed to assess groundwater levels across the valley. The results showed significant declines, particularly in the McCormick area, where groundwater levels have plummeted by an average of 26 feet since the Central Utah Canal ceased water deliveries in 1988.

The implications of these declines are severe, as lowering groundwater levels can lead to sediment compaction and subsidence, which has already been observed in the form of cracked and floating well pads. Satellite data over a six-year period indicated subsidence rates of 5 to 6 inches in certain areas, with some regions experiencing total compaction of nearly 15 inches over nine years.

Officials also examined the role of precipitation in these trends, noting fluctuations in drought years despite some recent wetter conditions. The data from a SNOTEL station since 1985 showed a general increase in precipitation until 2005, followed by a slight decrease, but no definitive correlation was established to explain the ongoing declines in water levels.

As the meeting concluded, the urgency of addressing these water resource challenges was clear, with officials emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and potential intervention strategies to mitigate the impacts of declining water availability in the region.