Latest news with #Utah-specific
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Utah Lake Authority launches comedic campaign to improve public opinion
For some residents, Utah Lake may bring to mind concerns of harmful algal blooms, invasive carp and murky water. But Utah Lake Authority is hoping to change that perception through their Utah Lake is My Lake campaign to improve public opinion and dispel myths about the state's largest freshwater lake. The lake authority partnered with Harmon Brothers ad agency to create a series of ads and billboards that encourage locals to take advantage of the lake. While many tourists and new residents enjoy Utah Lake, there are still Utah County natives who refuse to use the lake due to a misconception that it is dirty or dangerous, according to Ryan Powell, Harmon Brothers creative director. 'This widespread perception is based on misinformation and facts that are 30 or 40 years out of date. In reality, Utah Lake is a beautiful lake, albeit a little quirky,' said Powell. '(Utah Lake has) undergone incredible restorative work and ... despite the progress, the stigma has stuck. So, we knew a typical awareness campaign wouldn't cut it, and we asked ourselves: Who would be best to fight these outdated ideas and spread the good news? The answer couldn't have been more obvious: the Germans.' The ads feature two German tourists — played by veteran Studio C actors Jason Gray and Whitney Call — who discuss what makes the lake great while making comedic and Utah-specific references. They demonstrate the variety of activities the lake can be used for, like paddleboarding and fishing, while also correcting some of the most common misconceptions about Utah Lake. While harmful algae may be a health concern at certain times of the year, Utah Lake has seen a 50% decrease in algal blooms since 2016. The lake is nutrient-rich and shallow in certain areas, providing ideal conditions for algal blooms to grow, but the blooms are not always harmful. When harmful algae blooms do occur, Utah Lake Recreational Monitoring issues an advisory so lake patrons can avoid illness. Over the last several decades, efforts to remove invasive carp from the lake have resulted in an around 80% decrease in the species' presence. Utah Lake is also home to a native species of fish called the June sucker, which was previously an endangered species. The June sucker is now only classified as a threatened species, marking a massive win for the lake, according to the Utah Lake Authority. Slapstick ads are a small part of Utah Lake is My Lake's yearlong awareness campaign. Utah Lake Authority plans to hold several events to increase community engagement and education about the lake, such as their Great Carp Hunt that includes a grand prize of $10,000. The authority also plans to gather more data on how many visitors the lake receives annually between the 35 access points along the 70-mile perimeter of the lake. Data on visitation will be gathered through eco-counters, a device that emits an infrared beam and counts the number of times a person or car passes through the beam. The first couple eco-counters, placed in August last year, have counted nearly 600,000 patrons so far and highlighted several boat marina access points as the most visited. This data will be used to understand what areas are most frequented and may suffer from overuse if not monitored. 'We want people to recognize that the lake is actually doing really well,' said Luke Peterson, Utah Lake Authority executive director. 'This is an asset that we have treated as a deficit up to this point. So, Utah Lake is My Lake is really focused on helping people to see the value of the lake, taking ownership and recognizing that they have this wonderful resource in their backyard. There is always room for improvement — and Utah Lake has room for improvement — but it is just getting better with each day.' Utah Lake Authority conducted a study to gain insights into the public perception of the lake and found that many felt it was more important to conserve the Great Salt Lake rather than Utah Lake. This becomes problematic, Peterson explained, because many don't understand that one-third of the Great Salt Lake's water runs through Utah Lake, and the larger lake would die without its smaller partner. Additionally, Utah Lake provides several streams of income for the area, made up of hundreds of jobs created by the lake and resulting in millions of dollars in economic activity, according to Peterson. '(Utah Lake Authority has) done tremendous work to get us to where we are, to change the perception in Utah County,' said Utah County Commissioner Skyler Beltran. 'We've invested in this — not only financially, but emotionally and ecologically — because we care. We care, as a commission, that this is a resource that our community can use to recreate. If we can get people to the lake, we can boost our economy; we can boost local business. The opportunities are really endless for this lake.' To help plant more native wildlife along the lake, Utah Lake Authority will host an Earth Day Planting Party on Monday, April 26. The lake authority has been working to remove phragmites — an invasive reed grass— from the area, and wants to replace them with more attractive and productive pollinating plants. The event will be held at 9 a.m. at 282 W. 1600 North in Vineyard. More information and updates on the Utah Lake is My Lake campaign can be found on the Utah Lake Authority's Facebook page.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Utah's call for action: Addressing sexual assault through prevention and support
More than 50 people squeezed into a room in the Capitol Tuesday evening for 'Advocacy Day on the Hill' hosted by the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault regarding sexual assault resources and prevention in the state. The coalition's executive director, Liliana Olvera-Arbon, said the statewide nonprofit's focus is on prevention. 'We believe that prevention is possible, that we can address this issue before it happens. We know that survivors are in need of support and resources, and so today, we are focusing on what can we do as a community to engage in prevention efforts,' she said. Last year, the coalition's 24-hour sexual assault helpline received a 142% increase in calls, group system's director Bethany Crisp said. Without stable funding, Crips noted there is concern that resources for victims will not be able to keep up with the demand. This legislative session, the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault is asking for the help of Utahns to contact their representatives, 'letting them know that if we invest in this resource, we send a message that Utah stands with survivors and that we won't turn our backs on those who are in need of help the most,' Crisp said. There are currently 13 rape crisis centers aiding the state of Utah. During this legislative session, Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, emphasized his commitment to ensuring that survivors of sexual assault receive the highest quality care and that law enforcement follows best practices in handling these cases. He also emphasized the need for prevention funding. 'I've heard the old term, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,' Clancy said. 'I think an ounce of prevention goes several pounds of each cure. And so many times we talk about the impact, rightfully so, of survivors and the challenges and the layers and layers of trauma that survivors have to deal with after being victimized by an abuser.' For the victims who are too scared to come forward, Clancy said those who came in support are the 'voices for the folks who can't show up, or aren't ready to show up or aren't ready to share their story.' The coalition shared the following Utah-specific sexual assault statistics: 1 in 7 children experience sexual assault in their lifetime. 1 in 3 women experience sexual assault in their lifetime. 1 in 6 men experience sexual assault in their lifetime. 1 in 13 high school students experienced sexual assault in the last year. Abi Taylor, the executive director of Seekhaven, a nonprofit that aids victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault located in southeast Utah, said Moab — where the nonprofit is located — is 'known for our national and state parks, famous slip rock, mountain biking, ATV trails. ... We (also) have the highest reported instances of rapes per capita in the state of Utah.' Because it is an issue that many are too afraid to come forward, Seekhaven has events like 'body safety nights,' where they teach parents how to recognize the signs of sexual abuse, understand common behaviors of offenders and know how to respond if a child is among the one in seven in Utah who experience abuse, Taylor shared. 'In 90% of these cases, the child was ruined and abused by a person that they knew, loved and trusted,' she added. 'We know that it is common for adult victims and offenders to have been assaulted as children, and thus the intergenerational cycle of violence continues. Seekhaven youth programming relies on continued funding for sexual assault prevention.' The Utah Sexual Violence Policy Alliance is tracking numerous bills this legislative session that impact survivors of sexual assault in some capacity. Sexual assault-related bills this session include: HB13 'Sexual Extortion Amendments' (Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox, R-Ogden, and Sen. Stephanie Pitcher, D-Millcreek). HB15 'Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Task Force Amendments' (Rep. Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, and Sen. David P. Hinkins, R-Orangeville). HB40 'School Safety Amendments' (Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox, R-Ogden). HB66 'Ritual Abuse Amendments' (Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, and Senate Minority Assistant Whip Jen Plumb, D-Salt Lake City). HB78 'Criminal Offenses Amendments' (Rep. Matthew H. Gwynn, R-Farr West). HB117 'Sexual Abuse Statutes of Limitation Amendments' (Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan). HB127 'Sexual Crime Amendments' (Rep. Mark A. Strong, R-Bluffdale). HB171 'Victim and Witness Privacy Amendments' (Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, and Senate Majority Assistant Whip Michael K. McKell, R-Spanish Fork).
