'Great for our water supply': BYU study examines how rock glaciers fit into Utah's water puzzle

Key Points:

• Rock glaciers, slow-moving masses of ice and debris found in Utah's mountains like Mount Timpanogos, serve as hidden water reserves that release water slowly even after snow melts, contributing to the state's water supply.
• A collaborative study by the Utah Geological Survey, BYU, and other universities involved a six-week expedition to nearly 100 rock glaciers in Utah and Colorado, finding that nearly all contained water, especially important during late summer drought conditions.
• Water samples from these rock glaciers showed high quality, indicating that these natural reservoirs provide clean water, which is critical for Utah, where over 90% of the state faces severe drought.
• Researchers highlight the significance of rock glaciers as a major and sustainable water source, with the ability to store water through snowfall cycles, making them less vulnerable than traditional glaciers.
• Graduate student Lerato Thoka-Cole expressed hopes to apply insights from this research to address water scarcity issues in Africa, emphasizing the potential to tap into groundwater resources in water-scarce regions.