[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6595608,"mediaKeyId","3028471-714b4fdf8ccde98394b075baf7905bcb","parentId",3028471,"title","UGS board approves January minutes and project proposals; chair opens board for strategic input","audioSeconds",77,"startMs",562000,"endMs",639000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028471-714b4fdf8ccde98394b075baf7905bcb&start=562&end=639","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028471-714b4fdf8ccde98394b075baf7905bcb/thumbnail_562000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6595608/Utah/UGS-board-approves-January-minutes-and-project-proposals-chair-opens-board-for-strategic-input","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595608-c11c255572524c4e5a0b94c9678e10dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981843&Signature=NgkhmitJlLfc8i~gckTngQ4sX7u43gRCT9GwxLCTwTY385Z-NmKJdzI4BNcI4eSbs~pJMjsreMCsGkXRfnaBWUrzfSkUeC66fgBr2bcuKkvFaaIx0xOKdoOmoLcP8ACx~EQAFIKbLjqHvbs50yXypH4W5nJA34WcUQQoL1yc3LrU5Qem6LS96YzcU3ux2VvXS02-n45QmGVCOlhmjxgyl4qQIEJh0y~1joYHa7xPpeYnAchu0RvoxC3L9jmVqBzWg30BgyYiKKM~vR93soy~YL9ENCuKjBvKi3hj8I8SZ-eqOm9eVSDau9sEg~KJ6nqo0xno-JqBhriC8KYSLfG3WQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-17T00:35:08.03Z","article","The Utah Geological Survey Board approved routine meeting business on April 16, including the minutes from its Jan. 15, 2025 meeting and a slate of contract proposals submitted since the prior meeting.

Minutes and proposals: Vice Chair Ken Flett called for a motion to approve the Jan. 15 minutes from the board packet; a board member (Riley Breickerhoff) moved to accept the minutes and a second was recorded. The board voted in favor and the minutes were approved. The board then voted to approve the list of contract proposals and projects accumulated since the last meeting; the motion carried.

Board membership and calendar: Darlene Patashian noted two board seats had been renewed through 2029 (Becky and Riley) and that applications are being reviewed for the seats formerly held by Rick Chestnut and Dave (last name referenced in packet). She asked board members to RSVP for future meetings and noted the next meetings and field trips are on members’ calendars. The board also discussed soliciting program-manager presentations at upcoming meetings.

Why it matters: Approving minutes and proposals is standard board governance. The membership renewals and open seats are the procedural steps for ensuring continued quorum and representation on a board that advises UGS operations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","UGS Board Meeting 4/16/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Utah Geological Survey Board approved minutes from the Jan. 15, 2025 meeting and formally approved contract proposals submitted since the last meeting; board membership renewals and open seats were discussed.","taxTitle","Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Government Divisions, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",7888,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6595613,"Interim UGS director outlines personnel changes, outreach push and strategic planning",2166,669000,2835000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028471-714b4fdf8ccde98394b075baf7905bcb&start=669&end=2835","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028471-714b4fdf8ccde98394b075baf7905bcb/thumbnail_669000.jpg","/articles/6595613/Utah/Interim-UGS-director-outlines-personnel-changes-outreach-push-and-strategic-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595613-0d78c184cb60a5f6dcb3124f2cf85d7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981843&Signature=P6KIAlpG2CW0xdoU0j28MZ7NspimSet6g8FC8o7sQY0AnctHzq~ttiAEKhgs4NSq4X584kW5mm0U52s2udchhTX2Hxi-0j3rc2aVHZd0is~gXzmnuABshBShePloj1-vCSU67NZro9Qc3AoRb~QdQjpCrcVyxRjm85knQH1-Vrp2EqmE9FPB6PPp9UcqKfDkgBv6d62uKCujef3cBJLFSwQ1sJ0hm72xbgRk0ni6rkszPcj4lGMXJgbd9x8X6~I43vnAQ2bfQRFy-2D0OU8vHkuOR-d5KabIVW9-M4dnZgqKCk65KRL2NxyhKVaf9TY~uTqI88ifoyBDzCt7tV4WUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Utah Geological Survey Board meeting on April 16, Acting Director Darlene Patashian summarized personnel changes, recognition items and a proposed strategic planning process.

Staffing and recognition: Darlene introduced Jessica Stern, the new wetlands coordinator who joined UGS two weeks earlier. She noted Phil Hughes retired effective March 31 and that the appointment process for a new permanent director is underway. Longtime hydrogeologist Lucy Jordan moved to an on-call vendor arrangement after relocating out of state, and Janae Wallace, a senior staffer with 35 years of service, is expected to retire later this year. Darlene also recognized staff promotions for long-serving administrative leads, and acknowledged Mark Milligan for legislative liaison work and other staff for publications and awards — including staff authorship on a peer-reviewed paleontology paper and a new estimate of lithium, magnesium and potassium in Great Salt Lake brine.

Outreach and visibility: Darlene said UGS will increase engagement with industry and other state agencies to raise the survey’s profile and better demonstrate how UGS data underpins energy and minerals work. She noted a recent trade mission to Canada that highlighted opportunities for a Utah critical-minerals strategic plan and cited increased outreach through the public-information role assigned part-time to contracts analyst Ben Delin.

Strategic planning: Darlene proposed a phased strategic-planning process beginning with program managers in May, then midlevel staff and finally board involvement. The stated goals are to “return to mission,” realign staffing with statutory priorities, and ensure funding matches program priorities. She asked the board for input on increased visibility efforts and suggested program managers present updates at future meetings.

Other items: Darlene announced a plan to support two paid high-school interns for an eight-day summer program and emphasized that UGS will continue to emphasize internal financial housekeeping and grant cost-share clarity as part of its preparation for FY26.","Darlene Patashian, serving as interim director, introduced new staff, noted retirements and promotions, and proposed a strategic planning process to align UGS's mission, staffing and funding priorities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6595615,"UGS presents expanded flux network, Great Salt Lake and Shorelands monitoring; stations cost about $100K each",2065,6322000,8387000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028471-714b4fdf8ccde98394b075baf7905bcb&start=6322&end=8387","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028471-714b4fdf8ccde98394b075baf7905bcb/thumbnail_6322000.jpg","/articles/6595615/Utah/UGS-presents-expanded-flux-network-Great-Salt-Lake-and-Shorelands-monitoring-stations-cost-about-100K-each","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595615-4115b6d8ef4963711b0d157af4459a8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981843&Signature=aExJl~YdzhkWTT0THX-Ejt1cVQ5UkRPLTPxhMQ6isoMvCNqsuS6NItCS5GwRuRzKcbZTjgYbBT4Oq~z0Lj9-upiZQOLim16IYKBbGf29FaXoTOMS~zcd2yeX8QXqtjNFk~fpANuRb4w9xsM0FukrhxKAiyNCjdvAp5H1iWbTRtVr88LKwQ5zCK5iXFIXB0pECrMAYR2c1yMkRwESOfIeq4a0TDeV2ha0ztHl0XV-2tlLrlmWPCvFrde55hdXoUOtMMzqOHQkwxibXqONKJJayUVJbvi~2NevV5ZNXWhQgGFZOQucdW7ByHMq7Ketu2h8vi1V0iZGsKwy77tlYSUSJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","UGS groundwater and wetlands staff briefed the board on April 16 about several research and monitoring efforts being deployed across Utah, including an 11-site evapotranspiration (ET) flux network, new work around the Great Salt Lake, and a detailed Shorelands Preserve water-budget study that is already informing restoration actions.

Why it matters: The flux-network data and the Shorelands Preserve study aim to reduce uncertainty in how much water is lost to evaporation and plant uptake (evapotranspiration), information that managers and water-rights planners use to model lake levels and wetland health along the Great Salt Lake and in agricultural basins.

Flux network and partners: Paul (program presenter) described the Utah Flux Network as a set of high-precision flux towers and associated sensors that measure ET, soil moisture and energy exchange. The network has brought in more than $2 million in external, matched funding over five years, and includes partners such as the Colorado River Authority of Utah, the Upper Colorado River Commission, Utah State University, Bureau of Reclamation, Water Resources, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and AmeriFlux. Equipment cost per site was reported at roughly $100,000; stations transmit half-hourly data and program staff visit sites monthly to download high-frequency records and perform maintenance.

Great Salt Lake work and Phragmites project: Staff described an ongoing effort to place stations at multiple wetland, playa and mineral-pond settings around the lake to ground-truth remotely sensed ET and to study vegetation impacts on water budgets. UGS is partnering with Water Resources and others; a pilot project will monitor Phragmites stands to measure water use before and after invasive-species treatment by Forestry, Fire and State Lands.

Shorelands Preserve water budget: UGS reported a multidisciplinary study of the Shorelands Preserve at the northeastern edge of Farmington Bay that combines continuous surface-flow monitoring, groundwater measurements, vegetation mapping and remote-sensing analysis. The study estimated annual inflows and outflows and concluded that Phragmites stands near the preserve’s margin are consuming a large portion of diffuse outflow — findings now being used to design pond-and-berm restoration projects that create open water and emergent wetlands while reducing phragmites extent.

Groundwater Data Hub and subsidence monitoring: Staff showed improvements to a public Groundwater Data Hub that now includes groundwater-level trends (10-, 15- and 30-year views) and links to Water Rights data. UGS staff also noted ongoing use of satellite-based deformation (InSAR) and other remote sensing to detect subsidence and deformation linked to groundwater pumping; Woods Cross was highlighted as a location where groundwater withdrawal is associated with settlement of infrastructure.

Next steps: Staff said they are seeking additional grant funding to expand station coverage and to analyze lake-brine chemistry tied to lithium and other solutes. They also offered to make station data directly available to stakeholders and continue to publish findings as reports and peer-reviewed papers.","Groundwater and wetlands staff described an 11-station evapotranspiration network, new Great Salt Lake monitoring including work on phragmites and brine chemistry, and a Shorelands Preserve water-budget study that is informing on-the-ground restoration projects.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6595620,"Utah Geological Survey wins $1.75 million for geothermal work; federal grant pauses largely resolved",4832,1212000,6044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028471-714b4fdf8ccde98394b075baf7905bcb&start=1212&end=6044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028471-714b4fdf8ccde98394b075baf7905bcb/thumbnail_1212000.jpg","/articles/6595620/Utah/Utah-Geological-Survey-wins-175-million-for-geothermal-work-federal-grant-pauses-largely-resolved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595620-babf3eeaf5c1f8d37a09a368e4a624dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981843&Signature=Tz4TyNNGWD84M0GzDeqI0bZ8IqSSEN8-iwJkcEqIxJ2NHbjF936PIDZV9ZiHmovJhdhrzEPgyMfajXSEDDX-69YWknvAhPtpcnoYzHDg9Xn-GRlot8qwJFMTlP8ttFBDmJh2jR2xcTGVSRPWYY15o9h6DlraxbDv0M3Zdpgupt1ZGyDLoPhGyCoGtQyRiGIUDgdvtKauvVKbBW-awHq7JBChUyw~0b7C8QwaqF3pcMb7ZL0KFyISd7eKSG63~BAt7Lsp8pO7Ml8FO0Hy9Ho3HZNXLrlGg-vNwfEPmzU1xWwfWy1yv9LWMhL2bURLm-K5-N9ofESKFGY1s9ReiKXvsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Acting UGS Director and State Geologist Darlene Patashian told the Utah Geological Survey Board on April 16 that the agency emerged from the legislative session with a mix of wins and lingering federal uncertainty. The Legislature approved a $1,750,000 appropriation for an initiative the agency calls Operation Gigawatt to support geothermal investigations, she said, in addition to the agency's base general-fund appropriation.

Why it matters: The line-item allocation — smaller than UGS’s original request but described by Darlene as substantial — funds new equipment and field work intended to advance geothermal and related energy-resource mapping in Utah. Darlene said the appropriation will pay for items including a GeoProbe and that staff are beginning a work plan for the geothermal investigations.

Details from the meeting: Darlene said the geothermal request was originally proposed at $5,000,000, entered the governor’s budget near $4.4 million and was approved by the Legislature at $1.75 million. She said the agency also received support from the UGS restricted account and that the Legislature provided roughly $6,000,000 in general funds (as noted in the board packet) to support UGS operations.

Federal funding and contract pauses: Darlene summarized a period earlier in the year when multiple federally funded contracts were briefly frozen after the change in federal administration. She said most signed and obligated contracts have since been released following legal and administrative review, and “we are steady as she goes,” quoting her remarks. She noted, however, one outstanding issue: potential late restrictions on FEMA grant management costs that could affect roughly $1.017 million of management funding for the hazard team, while the science-specific portions of those FEMA grants appear not to be affected.

Budget management and cost share: The board was told UGS has stepped up internal financial controls and billing practices to better capture grant revenue. Darlene and Finance Lead Russ Fillmore described steps including more rigorous timekeeping, kickoff meetings for proposals that include data-management and publication staff, and improved contract-management tools. Russ presented year-to-date financials through March 31 and projected a carry-forward balance of about $753,000 into fiscal 2026, composed of restricted and project-specific funds. Both leaders stressed that accurate capture of grant billing and cost-share obligations is essential to avoid drawing on general funds.

Outlook: Darlene said she is “less worried than I was in January and February” about the outlook for federal funding but cautioned that future awards may be slower or smaller. She and Russ said the survey will adjust program scope if state or federal grant levels change, and they plan to present a chart of typical cost-share expectations at a future board meeting.

Related activity: Mark Milligan, UGS legislative liaison, briefed the board on bills that affected the agency, including measures on geologic carbon storage and nuclear energy; his summary is reported separately by the board. Darlene also described outreach plans to increase visibility with stakeholders and industry to support future funding requests.

The board discussed next steps for budgeting and communications and asked staff to provide more detailed cost-share and grant-capture information at the next meeting.","Acting UGS director Darlene Patashian told the board that the Legislature approved $1.75 million for a geothermal initiative, state general funds were sustained and previously frozen federal contracts were released after a short pause, though some FEMA management costs remain restricted.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

UGS board approves January minutes and project proposals; chair opens board for strategic input

Interim UGS director outlines personnel changes, outreach push and strategic planning

UGS presents expanded flux network, Great Salt Lake and Shorelands monitoring; stations cost about $100K each

Utah Geological Survey wins $1.75 million for geothermal work; federal grant pauses largely resolved