Utah
Cox says Utah, other Western states will have to cut back on Colorado River use
Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at his month-to-month information convention on the Eccles Broadcast Middle, on Thursday. Cox mentioned states alongside the Colorado River Basin should in the reduction of use simply primarily based on logistics. (Rick Egan)
Estimated learn time: 4-5 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox made it clear Thursday that Utah and different states should scale back the quantity of water they take from the Colorado River within the foreseeable future because the West’s ongoing drought persists.
The governor, talking at his month-to-month PBS Utah briefing with Utah journalists Thursday, paraphrased feedback from Gene Shawcroft, the chairman of the Colorado River Authority of Utah, about the way forward for the river.
“We all know that we’re by no means going to get what was our justifiable share, what we have now been promised, as a result of the hydrology is simply not there,” Cox mentioned. “We actually hope that it will likely be sometime, however it isn’t proper now.”
He asserted that the Decrease Basin states have used greater than their allocation than the Higher Basin states, together with Utah. On the identical time, he identified that there is “not sufficient” for all of the states’ allocations primarily based on present situations and outlooks.
“We’re all going to have to chop again,” he mentioned. “The query can be how are we going to pretty distribute that cutback among the many states? These are the conversations which are ongoing.”
His feedback come days after the Division of Inside and Bureau of Reclamation launched their 24-month outlook of Lake Powell and Lake Mead, which, mixed, are at about 28% capability because of ongoing drought over the previous 20 years. Their outlook included 2023 plans, which embrace a 21% discount in water allotted to Arizona, an 8% discount in water to Nevada and a 7% discount in water allotted to Mexico.
The businesses additionally referred to as on states to voluntarily scale back water consumption after asking states earlier this 12 months to seek out methods to cut back consumption by 2 million to 4 million acre-feet.
This summer season’s monsoons have helped drought situations in Utah and the West, however drought situations nonetheless persist all through many of the area. The U.S. Drought Monitor’s weekly report Thursday lists about two-thirds of the Beehive State in at the least excessive drought, which is down almost 14 proportion factors from final week’s report. All components of the state stay in at the least a average drought.
About 70% of all the West is listed in at the least a average drought, with one other 16% thought-about “abnormally dry” in the intervening time. At the least half of the area, which incorporates 11 states, is experiencing at the least extreme drought situations.
This performs into traits of the previous 20 years. Christopher Cutler, the supervisor of the Water and Energy Providers Division on the Bureau of Reclamation, mentioned Tuesday that the Colorado River Basin is in the course of its driest 23-year stretch on file. Scientists confirmed earlier this 12 months that this two-decade span, known as a “megadrought,” is the area’s worst in at the least 1,200 years.
All of this might additionally play into new development in Utah and throughout the West.
Cox has up to now supported the Lake Powell Pipeline, which conservation teams have pushed again towards. The mission would create a pipeline from Lake Powell to southwest Utah, offering extra water for one of many fastest-growing metro areas within the nation.
The present state of affairs has made it tough to maneuver ahead. The governor identified that there are two methods to ensure water for each new constructing allow within the state, which is a state legislation: new sources of water, like new reservoirs, or decreasing water use per capita. Proper now, the latter is the out there choice — although Cox mentioned he is hopeful new choices will emerge sooner or later.
“Our means to develop — not simply in southern Utah however all through Utah — can be strictly dependant on our means to verify we have now sufficient water out there,” he mentioned. “I do suspect that if the drought continues sooner or later, there most likely can be just a few pockets the place (pausing new constructing permits) is perhaps the case.”
When requested about piping water into the state, whether or not to accommodate Utah’s development or to offer water to the shrinking Nice Salt Lake, Cox added that he is unsure what the feasibility is. He mentioned that is why research are being accomplished to determine prospects and even prices.
However given the area’s points over the previous 20 years, Utah is not alone in having these kinds of conservations. Drought has additionally emerged at instances throughout different states. In actual fact, the U.S. Drought Monitor lists about two-thirds of all the nation as “abnormally dry” and almost half in at the least some stage of drought.
It is why he believes any water pipeline in Utah must be part of some kind of community involving a number of states.
“We’re not on an island right here. This isn’t a Utah drought, this can be a Western United States drought,” he mentioned. “We’re not the one ones taking a look at these questions. Nevada, California, Arizona — we’re all attempting to grasp, are there different methods to do that?”
Associated tales
Most up-to-date Utah drought tales
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A second consecutive trip to the Rose Bowl, on Jan. 2, 2023, could not have ended any worse for the Utah football team.
The 35-21 defeat against Penn State was disappointing, but losing quarterback Cameron Rising to a severe knee injury in the third quarter was devastating. Rising tore the ACL, MCL, MPFL and meniscus in his knee and wound up missing the entire 2023 season, which led to a subpar year for the Utes.
Now back in action, Rising and the Utes are bringing high expectations into this season.
This summer, BuffZone will preview each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2024 season and in this installment we look at Utah, which will visit Boulder on Nov. 16.
“Cam did not miss one minute of spring ball in any way, shape, or form,” head coach Kyle Whittingham told reporters after the Utes’ spring game in April. “He was back to his old self.”
That’s great news for Utah and not-so-great news for the Big 12.
Like CU, Utah is making the jump from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 and the Utes already have lofty goals. This week, the Big 12 announced the preseason media poll, with Utah projected as the winner. The Utes are likely to be a top-20 team in the preseason polls.
The Pac-12 champs in 2021 and 2022, Utah still went 8-5 last year (5-4 Pac-12), even without Rising. The Utes also played the 2023 season without star tight end Brant Kuithe. Running back Micah Bernard missed the last 11 games of the regular season with an injury.
It was no surprise that Utah’s offense dipped to 23.2 points per game last year, down from 38.6 in 2022.
Rising, Kuithe and Bernard are all back, though, and the Utes reloaded on the line and at receiver. Most notably, former Arizona star receiver Dorian Singer is in Salt Lake City after a down season at USC.
It all starts with Rising, though. He was the spark to Utah’s back-to-back Pac-12 title teams and he’s the unquestioned leader as the Utes join the Big 12.
“Feeling strong,” Rising said after the spring game. “(I have) been accruing a lot of reps and it’s good to be out there with the guys making plays and watching them go.
“We’ve been throwing the ball as much as we can, just trying to get out there and get that chemistry.”
While Rising should help the offense take a leap forward, the defense looks to be as good as usual. A big reason why Utah still won eight games last year is that the defense held opponents to only 19.3 points per game (tied for 18th nationally).
Utah lost some key players from last year’s defense, most notably leading pass rusher Jonah Elliss, who was a third-round pick of the Denver Broncos in April. Safeties Cole Bishop (Buffalo Bills) and Sione Vaki (Detroit Lions) were also drafted.
Eight players who started at least five games are back for the Utes, however, six of them from the front seven.
Utah will need to find a replacement for Elliss (12 sacks), but ends Van Fillinger and Connor O’Toole have experience and could lead that charge. There will be changes at safety, too, but Tao Johnson, last year’s starting nickel, had a good spring after moving to the back of the defense.
Whittingham turned Utah into one of the best teams in the Pac-12, with four conference title game appearances from 2018-23 and there’s no reason to believe the Utes won’t be one of the better teams in the Big 12 this season.
Utah Utes
Head coach: Kyle Whittingham, 20th season (162-79)
2023 season: 8-5, 5-4 Pac-12; lost to Northwestern in Las Vegas Bowl
Series with CU: Utah leads 34-32-3
The Game
Who: Utah Utes at Colorado Buffaloes
When: Saturday, Nov. 16, time TBA
Where: Folsom Field in Boulder
5 Guys to Watch
RB Micah Bernard: A sixth-year senior, he’s played offense and defense in his career. Although he’s never been the full-time starter, he has rushed for 1,208 yards and seven touchdowns in his career, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He also has 69 receptions for 620 yards and three scores.
TE Brant Kuithe: A seventh-year senior, he’s one of the best tight ends in the country when healthy, but he’s missed Utah’s last 23 games due to injuries. He was second-team All-Pac-12 three years in a row (2019-21) and has 148 career catches for 1,882 yards and 16 touchdowns.
LB Karene Reid: One of the top returning linebackers in the conference, Reid was second-team All-Pac-12 last year. He finished second on the team with 67 tackles, while also adding two tackles for loss, one interception and four pass breakups. He was first-team All-Pac-12 in 2022.
QB Cameron Rising: The 25-year-old, seventh-year senior is back after missing last year with an injury. A starter in 24 straight games from 2021-22, he threw for a total of 5,527 yards and 46 touchdowns (with only 13 interceptions) and rushed for 964 yards and 12 touchdowns in those two seasons.
DL Junior Tafuna: A preseason All-Big 12 selection, he had 17 tackles, three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last year. He was second-team All-Pac-12 three times and was the Pac-12 defensive freshman of the year in 2021.
Good to know
• Between Dorian Singer (USC) and Damien Alford (Syracuse), Utah added a load of experience at receiver. That duo has a combined 175 catches for 2,597 yards in college. Singer had just 289 yards last year at USC, but was an 1,100-yard receiver at Arizona in 2022. Alford caught 33 passes for 610 yards last year at Syracuse.
• Star linebacker Levani Damuni is expected to miss all or most of the season with a leg injury. He led the Utes with 87 tackles last season.
• In addition to Bernard, Utah returns last year’s second-leading rusher, Jaylon Glover, who had 562 yards and two touchdowns on 137 attempts. The Utes also added Idaho transfer Anthony Woods, who rushed for 1,155 yards and 16 TDs last year and earned first-team All-Big Sky honors.
• On Monday, Utah announced that defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley will be Whittingham’s successor when Whittingham, 65, decides to retire. Scalley, who was born in Salt Lake City and played for the Utes from 2001-04, has been on the staff since 2006. He’s going into his ninth season as coordinator.
• Punter Jack Bouwmeester was first-team All-Pac-12 as a sophomore last year. He averaged 45.5 yards per punt and landed 20 of his 55 kicks inside the opponents’ 2-yard line.
• Kicker Cole Becker, who played at CU from 2021-22, was 15-for-18 on field goals last year with the Utes, including a long of 51 yards. He missed the first three field goal attempts of his career, but has gone 40-of-48 (83.3%) since then, as well as 73-of-74 on extra points.
Portal movement
Utah lost 25 players to the transfer portal, but most of them were backups. The top two quarterbacks from last year – Bryson Barnes (Utah State) and Nate Johnson (Vanderbilt) – both left, but with Rising back that shouldn’t matter. The Utes did lose some starters, though, including leading rusher Ja’Quinden Jackson (Arkansas). Starting center Kolinu’u Faaiu (Texas A&M), starting cornerback JaTravis Broughton (TCU), as well as part-time starting receiver Mikey Matthews (California) also left. Of the 12 players coming in, receivers Dorian Singer (USC) and Damien Alford (Syracuse) and cornerback Kenan Johnson (Georgia Tech) are headliners. Receiver Taeshaun Lyons (Washington), tight end Carsen Ryan (UCLA) and running back Anthony Woods (Idaho) should also make some noise. Defensively, edge Paul Fitzgerald (Utah State), cornerback Cameron Calhoun (Michigan) and safety Alaka’i Gilman (Stanford) could all be impactful. Former Washington quarterback Sam Huard (Cal Poly) could be a nice addition, as well.
Utah
“Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center” Coming to Utah Summer 2025, Establishing the First-Ever Home Facility for a Professional Pickleball Team – OnFocus
“Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center” Coming to Utah Summer 2025, Establishing the First-Ever Home Facility for a Professional Pickleball Team
Facility will be home to Utah’s Major League Pickleball team and will serve as a high-end pickleball club for players of all levels.
Salt Lake City, Utah–April 12, 2024 –The Utah Black Diamonds, a Premier Level team within Major League Pickleball, have partnered with GCTM Investments to bring a $25 million state-of-the-art pickleball center to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. This marks the first high-performance facility that will be the dedicated home base of a professional pickleball team. The center, powered by The Picklr, who have a strong track record and expertise for designing premium indoor facilities, will also serve as a high-end club for pickleball players of all levels.
The Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center, which will be located in the city of South Jordan, just south of Salt Lake City off of I-15, will feature:
- 36 pickleball courts (30 indoor and 6 outdoor)
- A 1,500-seat Championship Court with VIP Box Seating
- Two Grandstand Courts with 500 seats apiece
- A full gym and recovery center with cold plunges, steam rooms, saunas and more
- A café, bar, and social centers
- A Pickleball Central Pro Shop
“This is a seminal moment in pickleball – for both the professional and amateur levels – to be able to construct and operate the first home base dedicated to high-performance pickleball training and competition,” said Connor Pardoe, Owner of the Utah Black Diamonds and Founder and CEO of the Professional Pickleball Association. “The Utah Black Diamonds are leading the charge in dedicating time and resources to grow the sport and advance the level of play for its professionals, and we cannot be more excited to bring this one-of-a-kind facility to life.”
Already known as the purveyor of North America’s best indoor pickleball facilities, The Picklr will partner with The Utah Black Diamonds to operate the Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center. Programming for the 2,500 members of all ages and levels will include open play, clinics, tournaments, league play, ladders, and more. Members will be able to access the professional-style courts, and all of the club’s perks and amenities with unlimited pickleball play for one price, just like the 300+ Picklr locations being constructed across the country.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Utah Black Diamonds to launch this pioneering facility, which represents a significant milestone not just for professional pickleball, but for enthusiasts at every level. The Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center will set a new standard for professional pickleball with its state-of-the-art design and comprehensive amenities that cater to both the casual player and the professional athlete,” said Jorge Barragan, CEO and Co-Founder of The Picklr. “At The Picklr, we are dedicated to growing the sport of pickleball by providing unparalleled access and exceptional experiences. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to enhancing the pickleball community, offering an all-encompassing hub for training, competition, and enjoyment of the game.”
Construction of the Utah Black Diamonds Pickleball Center is set to begin in October 2024 and has a planned completion date in 2025. See more of the facility here.
ABOUT THE UTAH BLACK DIAMONDS:
The Utah Black Diamonds are a Major League Pickleball (MLP by Margaritaville) Premier Level team owned by the Pardoe Family. The roster comprises some of the world’s best pickleball athletes, including Utah’s own Tyler Loong, Callie Jo Smith, Alix Truong, and French sensation Jay Devilliers. MLP by Margaritaville is the preeminent team-based professional pickleball league, featuring over 100 of the best athletes across 24 teams, a unique coed format, easy-to-understand scoring, iconic team owners, and the most electric live events and fan experience in the sport.
ABOUT THE PICKLR:
At The Picklr, pickleball is more than just a sport; it’s a lifestyle that fosters community, competition, and fun. With more than 250 state-of-the-art clubs, professional coaching, and a vibrant atmosphere, The Picklr offers an unparalleled pickleball experience for players of all skill levels. All locations offer professional-grade outdoor surfacing, best-in-class technology, and access to free leagues, tournaments, and clinics. Follow The Picklr on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok for news on locations and tournaments, or visit https://thepicklr.com/franchise/to learn more about owning a franchise.
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