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Commissioners urge clearer public messaging as social media spreads rumors about lake conditions
Summary
Staff and commissioners said misinformation in outside media has prompted confusion about lake conditions; county staff urged citizens to share accurate information that the reservoir remains open for boating and fishing, and discussed assigning public-information duties.
Commissioners and staff discussed growing misinformation about local reservoir conditions and called for a clearer public-information response to reassure residents and visitors.
Staff member (S6) described a wave of misleading posts circulating beyond the county and urged community members to help correct the record: "we have an awful lot of misinformation going out about the water in the porch...the lake is not dead. We have water. We have fishing. We have boating activities," S6 said, asking residents to share county updates and for staff to amplify accurate information via the county webpage and local outlets.
Commissioners suggested drafting a short, factual statement for distribution and exploring options such as brief radio spots on Wasatch Front stations or assigning a public-information officer role to centralize messaging. One commissioner noted statewide precipitation figures may not translate into reservoir storage if precipitation fell as rain rather than snowpack, and a county irrigation contact provided reservoir-elevation numbers to illustrate the current status.
Why it matters: Public confusion about water levels can affect tourism, marina business and public safety. Commissioners directed staff to draft clear messaging for county channels and to consider targeted outreach to counter sensational outside reporting.
