GRANT HINDSLEY file photo Daily Herald
Hannah Hughes, a Salem Hills student, collects small pieces on school trust land west of Utah Lake as part of a volunteer effort. Hannah was helping to clean up trash from campers. Five high schools from the area competed to collect the most trash.
Utah Valley Earth Forum published their ninth annual Environmental Survey of Utah Valley Cities and Towns in celebration of Earth Day.
Utah Valley Earth Forum was founded in 2006 and is a local non-profit organization dedicated to improving the environment.
According to UVEF’s press release, the survey has multiple purposes. It gives every community in Utah Valley the opportunity to share their efforts to improve the environment and, therefore, the health of Utah and the earth with the public. The survey helps cities and towns to be more informed and motivated, and to make their environment better.
The survey’s final purpose is to highlight Utah Valley communities who are doing more than just protecting their environment.
The environmental survey is comprised 56 questions to gauge cities commitment in areas like education, stewardship, energy conservation, airquality and transportation, land use and zoning, and water conservation.
The UVEF survey was completed by city officials from Cedar Hills and Eagle Mountain, Highland, Lehi. Lindon, Orem. Provo, Santaquin. Spanish Fork. Vineyard. It was noted, however, that COVID-19 had a lower response rate in Utah County.
According to James Westwater (chair of UVEF), the response rate has fallen over the past two year, especially in smaller communities with fewer employees. This makes it more difficult for them and their staff to complete the form.
UVEF has listed the most recent survey responses from cities that have not responded to the survey. This included the Genolas survey responses from 2015, Alpine & Pleasant Groves responses in 2017, Saratoga Springs responses from 2016, Springville & Elk Ridges responses in 2019, and Salem & Woodland Hills responses in 2020.
The environmental survey was not completed by Mapleton and American Fork.
Westwater stated that you would have to ask them why they didn’t.
Westwater hopes that UVEF will remind the cities of Utah County every year by publishing an environmental survey. This will not only remind them of the work they have already done, but also encourage them to keep up the good work.
It states, “hey, this is what you could do,” Westwater stated. One of the main purposes is to inform, educate, and encourage cities to do what they can.
According to Westwater the UVEF has witnessed steady improvements in cities’ commitments to sustainability and eco-friendly improvement through their environmental survey.
He said that seeing Utah Valley communities, towns, and cities moving in positive, sustainable directions is a new phenomenon. These cities deserve to be commended.
Visit this link to view the survey survey.uvef.org.