Preserving the Gem of Utah: An In-Depth Discussion with Jon Werner,

President of the Eden Water Works Company

Can you tell me a bit about your role and background?

I am an Eden, Utah resident with an interest in water

issues. Licensed as a professional agricultural engineer prepared

me for 30 plus years in soil and water conservation.

I served as snow survey and water supply forecasting leader in WY, UT, NV, and CA supporting
the automation of the snow monitoring (SNOTEL) and soil moisture climate analysis monitoring
(SCAN) development. I served as national hydraulic engineer for the USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) and retired in 2006 from that federal agency as Director of the
USDA NRCS National Water and Climate Center.

What is your title with the board of water?

President of the board of directors for the Eden Water Works Company (EMU Eden, UT).

How long have you been a part of this committee?

3 years

For what county?

Weber County
What rivers, reservoirs/lakes, etc. do you work with?

The Burnett Spring and several wells in Eden area are the source of the culinary water
that our water company serves to the 300 + residents, businesses and schools. These in turn are
part of the Ogden River drainage which joins with the Weber River system.

What is your main job/what do you do?

Provide leadership and technical support to the business of maintaining the water
services, dealing with the ever-increasing pressure by real estate developers in the valley
demanding more of the limited water supplies for culinary water. Representing the 300+
shareholders in our company in matters of water quality, adequate supply and adequate fire
protection.

What is your current background knowledge on the Great Salt Lake?

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) is remnant of the Pleistocene age Lake Bonnevie. It is a
terminal lake with no outlet and is highly salty depending upon seasonal inflows. The salinity
supports mineral and brine shrimp industries.

Have you witnessed any noticeable changes in the lake's condition over the years, and how
have these changes impacted your views on conservation?
Increasing diversion of natural inflows by agriculture, residential/commercial and
recreation purposes have diminished the inflows, sharpening my conservation concerns about
maintaining the lake as a viable sustainable natural feature resource.
One of the concerns is the water level of the Great Salt Lake. Do you know how much
water your committee is currently diverting into the lake, and how does that compare to
historical levels?

EWW has approximately 71, 000, 000 gallons of water per year available to distribute to
its customers. Approximately 25-30 million gallons bypass the needs and enter the drainages to
Pineview reservoir, Ogden River and eventually to the GSL. This margin of water that seems
excess is held for emergencies and growth.

Are there any plans to increase or decrease the amount of water being diverted into the
Great Salt Lake in the near future?
EWW serves a large number of absentee residences that can use comparatively huge
volumes of water for secondary uses, unattended automation water systems and-or undetected
leaks in their water piping. EWW elevated billing rate pricing for these cases is a financial
incentive for more conservative water management at their residences. This saves as much as
another 10 million gallons annually to send downstream to the GSL.
How do you ensure that the water allocation to the lake is sustainable and doesn't harm
other water users or ecosystems?
By education and instituting conserving water use practices, less secondary watering, and
penalizing irresponsible water users.
If any, What initiatives, or strategies has your committee undertaken to address the
declining water levels in the Great Salt Lake?
Supporting water conservation in general.

From your professional knowledge, How do you see the future of the Great Salt Lake? Do
you have any estimates or predictions for how long the lake can sustain its current state
given the ongoing challenges?

It has a good future if public and private water users can increase water use efficiencies,
and reuse technology, revise priorities between residential, commercial, recreational and
agricultural needs. Fewer swimming pools and car wash businesses?
What are the main factors contributing to the lake's uncertain future, in your opinion?

Aged water use regulations. State water management authorities are not keeping up with
burgeoning new water needs through growth of homes and business. Incomplete assessment of
actual water groundwater sources and their sustainability Adequate contingency planning for
seasonal variability in annual rainfall and snowpack Downsizing traditional typical water use
authorized uses.
What role can the community and the general public play in helping to save the Great Salt
Lake? Are there any specific actions or behaviors you would like to see from individuals or
businesses?
Strengthening the public's acceptance of the GSL's value as an essential element of our
ecosystem as a personal issue and deliberately taking conservative measures.