sltrib.com
The Utah Geological Survey has released its 2012 Calendar of Utah Geology. Of the more than 300 photos that were submitted, 33 were selected for the 2012 calendar.
Near the town of Echo in northern Utah is a cluster of reddish-brown natural monuments called The Witches (also known as Witch Rocks, Witches Rocks, Witch Bluffs, or Witches Bluffs), composed of the Echo Canyon Conglomerate.
In 1858, army Captain Albert Tracy described them in his journal as “witch-like” and “so singularly like figures in kirtles [long skirts] and steeple-hats, or bonnets that they have received the appellation [Witch Rocks]”. By using your imagination (and perhaps squinting a bit), you can picture a coven of witches in long robes and witches’ hats standing on the hillside.
Nearby Echo Canyon has long been used as a main thoroughfare between southern Wyoming and northern Utah, first by Native Americans, fur trappers, and explorers, then by wagon trains on their way to Salt Lake City or other points west. Before the interstate highway, passengers on the Overland Stage and then the Union Pacific Railroad also made their way through the canyon.
At the town of Echo, the canyon opens into the Henefer Valley where most of these travelers rested and marveled at the unusual rock formations, some even drawing sketches or taking photographs of The Witches.
Featuring scenic photographs highlighting Utah’s geologic diversity.
The photographs were taken by UGS employees who are often on assignment in some of the state’s most interesting and unique locations. Pictures are accompanied by geologic descriptions and location information.
The calendar is available now and sells out fast, so don’t miss out!
Only $4.95.
Click to purchase or order now by calling 801.537.3320 or 1.888.UTAHMAP.
According to an intriguing 1826 map atlas, an unnamed river flowed from Great Salt Lake (also unnamed at the time) all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The atlas, titled Morse’s New Universal Atlas of the World on an Improved Plan of Alphabetical Indexes, Designed for Academies and Higher Schools, was recently donated to the Utah Geological Survey
Thought to be the only communication between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, the map shows the river emptying into San Francisco Bay. These old maps are not only fascinating, but offer insight into the events taking place in the early 1800s – providing an almost 200-year-old visual history of the world.
It sounds like a bad joke: What has 29 Bars, 69 Devils, and 13 Heavens? Utah does. Those are part of the names of geographic features found throughout the state. The topic of interesting names was recently tackled by the Utah Geological Survey (UGS) in its “Glad You Asked” section of Survey Notes.
“Utah has more bars than Arizona, Nevada and Wyoming combined,” said Mark Milligan, a UGS geologist. Bars, in this case, are elongated ridges of sand, gravel or other sediment.
Utah beats other states by having ‘Wife’ in the name of two locations. Utah’s 69 Devils are trumped by God and Jesus, which total 1,163 combined. However, Hell is found 55 times, but Heaven only 13.
There are 104 ‘Strange’ names and 311 ‘Odd’ names in the United States, but surprisingly none are in the Utah. But Utah is swell having one of only 12 ‘Swell’ places across the U.S.
IN THE MEDIA
For several years the Utah Geological Survey has outsourced research to improve understanding of Utah’s natural resources.
The purpose of this solicitation is to enter into a contract (or contracts) with a qualified individual or firm to provide geologic research on Utah’s: (1) oil and natural gas resource potential, (2) unconventional oil and gas resources such as tar sands and oil shale, (3) geothermal resources, (4) economic metals, (5) industrial minerals, and (6) geologic studies that will improve understanding of Utah’s geologic resources.
The goal of this work is to sustain development through diversification of energy, metal, and mineral, supplies and mitigate the impacts of boom – bust cycles. It is anticipated that this solicitation may result in several contracts being awarded. The Utah Geological Survey anticipates awarding up to eight individual contracts at a maximum $25,000 each. Lower cost proposals will be welcomed.
The deadline for submission of proposals is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27, 2011.
The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) has made its ground-water monitoring data available to the public through its new Ground-Water Monitoring Data Portal; with just a few simple clicks you can track water level trends in wells, and flow rates from springs in Snake Valley and adjacent areas.
Or, if your interest is in landslide potential this spring, you can find out what the water levels are in wells in and near landslides along the Wasatch Front. Users can easily find wells and springs using a map interface, view graphs of the data, and download graphic or tabular data in several formats.
The UGS has made the information available, in part due to the large amount of interest in proposed water-development projects in Snake Valley in west-central Utah and east-central Nevada. The ground-water levels, which have been continuously monitored by the UGS since 2007, have declined in areas of current pumping, suggesting that use is presently at or near the maximum sustainable rate for the region and that if pumping rates increase in the future, the rate of water-level decline would likely increase.
kcsg.com
Beautiful Bear Lake is called “the Caribbean of the Rockies” because of its vivid turquoise-blue water, but why is Bear Lake so Blue? A new booklet published by the Utah Geological Survey answers this and 16 other commonly asked questions about the lake.
The 41-page booklet is filled with dozens of photographs, maps, and figures. It contains information on geology, biology, hydrology, weather, recreation, history, the Ice Age, the modern and prehistoric connection to the Bear River, and laws and regulations governing the use of the lake. Those with a keen eye might even spot the mysterious Bear Lake Monster hidden within its pages.
In addition to its scenic splendor, Bear Lake is a scientific wonder. It is Utah’s deepest and one of North America’s oldest lakes, older than Great Salt Lake, older than the Great Lakes. Bear Lake’s great age makes it a history book of past climates and environments, a hot topic as of late. For this reason the lake was recently the subject of intensive scientific study. Cores drilled in lake-bottom mud show a continuous record back some 250,000 years, but the lake-bottom mud continues beyond what the deepest core (393 feet) could penetrate, and the lake is likely twice that old, perhaps even several million years old. Why is Bear Lake So Blue? highlights this and other findings of the study.
www.univers.byu.edu
You are in Moab for the weekend, you have slick-rocked all day and now you consult your new smart phone application to find the next place to see and adventure to be had.
The “Utah GeoSites” app allows students to navigate to more than 30 geological sites across Utah right from the touch of an Android phone.
The GeoSites app is free to download and provides three interactive maps detailing how to get to sites, interesting facts about how the sites were formed and what cool things there are to explore on location.
“I have been down in Escalante and Moab and have been stuck down there without knowing what to do. It would be nice knowing what’s around,” said Olivia Crellin, BYU student and avid road-tripper from Colorado. “If I had an Android phone I would for sure use the app because there are books and maps that have specific info to regions, but it would be nice to have everything in one database.”
Marshall Robinson, creator of the Android app, surveys Utah geological sites year round for the Utah Geological Survey. With each site he visits, Robinson uploads the history of each natural land creation, the photos he’s taken and other interesting facts about the area to the Utah Geological Survey website.
For a complete announcements and instructions on how to apply, please visit the State of Utah website at: http://statejobs.utah.gov.
HAZARDS MAPPING GEOLOGIST (official announcement)
Application Period: 02/02/2011 – 03/06/2011
Location: Salt Lake City – Utah Geological Survey – 1594 W. North Temple
The incumbent in this position will perform Quaternary geologic and geologic hazard mapping duties in our Geologic Hazards Program, generating 1:24,000-scale geologic maps and derivative geologic hazard map sets in urban areas mainly along the Wasatch Front, using ArcGIS software, stereo aerial photography, photogrammetry, and other methods. While the position is mainly focused on generating Quaternary geologic maps, the incumbent will work with other Geologic Hazards Program staff to perform geologic hazards and engineering geology investigations using GIS as needed; respond to geologic hazard emergency response requests; provide thorough technical publication reviews for other staff; and provide external outreach to citizens and local governments that may include the media.
The incumbent in this position will work closely with our Geologic Mapping Program in creation and publication of high-quality 1:24,000-scale Quaternary geologic maps that may be part of the U.S. Geological Survey StateMap program; will work with two other hazard mapping geologists in producing geologic hazard map sets; and will gather available geologic, geologic hazard, geotechnical, and soils data for subsequent analysis and map generation. Geologic mapping may also involve a combination of Quaternary and bedrock mapping, depending upon the mapped quadrangle, and will typically involve Lake Bonneville stratigraphy.
Incumbent hired as a Project Geologist will be required to obtain a Utah Professional Geologist (PG) license within one (1) year of hire.
This position may be filled at the Geologist level if the selected candidate does not meet the experience and/or licensing requirements for the Project Geologist level (i.e., at least 5 years of full-time directly applicable geologic experience, and has or can acquire a Utah Professional Geologist (PG) license within one year of hire)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) is a division of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Several specialized programs comprise the UGS: Data Management, Energy & Minerals, Geologic Hazards, Geologic Information & Outreach, Geologic Mapping, Groundwater & Wetlands, and Paleontology.
QUICK LINKS
CONTACT INFORMATION
1594 West North Temple, Suite 3110
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
801-537-3300 (phone)
801-537-3400 (fax)
Mailing Address:
PO BOX 146100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
HOURS
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
