Swaner exhibit examines environmental effects of water usage and conservation

All life on Earth depends on water. A new interactive exhibit is now on display at the Swaner Preserve/ EcoCenter, showing how conservation and usage choices impact Utah’s high desert environment.

Decisions Downstream, part of a state-wide collaboration presented by Utah Humanities, Think Water Utah, opened Friday, at the EcoCenter.

It features Dr. Sarah Null’s research and includes large-scale images made from layers of scientific information and original paintings by Utah-based artist Chris Peterson and Carsten meier. The aim is to encourage the public to discover new ways of viewing river habitats. Hunter Klingensmith, Swaners visitor experiences and exhibit manager, said that the exhibit will help them.

With the help of Utah Humanities, Hosting Decisions Downstream has provided us with an exciting opportunity to discuss the effects that water development decisions can have on our local ecosystems and communities. Water plays a vital role in the Swaner Preserve habitats and in Park City’s culture. We feel this exhibition is a great opportunity to have water conversations with our community.

Megan van Frank is the director of Utah Humanities’ Center for Community Heritage. She knows how important it is to facilitate the Think Water Utah project throughout the state.

We are committed to bringing these experiences to local communities. Collaboration between national, state and community agencies benefits everyone, van Frank stated in a statement. Visitors will be able to see the state of Utah from a different perspective, and also how it has influenced their personal lives.

Klingesmith stated that the exhibit includes three stations that show how Null mapped and built watershed and habitat models, how rivers in Utah have been fragmented, and how fragmentation affects native Utah wildlife.

She said that flip books are available at each station to help people understand the different areas that have changed due to water restoration projects. They also include photos of before and after from all over the state.

The exhibit also contains a case containing Null’s tools, as well as the art of Peterson and Meier.

Klingensmith explained that Dr. Null used drones to conduct her research. The large-format photographs and fish paintings were inspired from experiences with native Utah fish in their wild.

One of the paintings depicts the cutthroat trout.

Klingensmith stated that cutthroat fish are a great indicator for water quality and that we work to increase their numbers.

Klingensmith reports that Null and Peterson will present a presentation at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 29th to discuss the creation of the exhibit with Utah’s Natural History Museum of Utah.

She said that people will have the chance to visit the exhibit together and hear them talk.

Klingensmith said that they will also discuss how important the Swaner Preserve, which covers 1,200 acres, is to the Great Salt Lake Watershed.

She said that we are part of a larger watershed and that the water that flows through us comes from higher up in our watershed. Anything that happens here has an impact on wildlife that rely on this watershed downstream.

Klingensmith stated that EcoCenter staff, administration and volunteers have been working on restoration projects for the past few years to preserve the wetlands.

We have installed more than 100 analog beaver dams. These mimic beaver dams create the same ecosystem effects that beavers do, she said. The dams allow the wetlands to retain water for longer periods of time. They increase the water table and provide flood and drought control.

Klingensmith stated that volunteers have also planted willows near the streams. These willows provide shade as well as habitat for native fish.

She stated that fish-population surveys are done to determine the impact of restoration efforts. She also said that they are constantly striving to improve water quality.

Klingensmith stated that Decisions Downstream is a perfect companion piece for the permanent Wild Wetlands exhibit Swaner Preserve created last year when it hosted Water/Ways. This exhibit was the first of the Think Water Utah project.

Wild Wetlands was established in partnership with Water/Ways. The goal was to give a history of the wetlands and showcase the restoration work at the wetlands.