Glossary
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross has responded to wildfires across the Western U.S. providing clean water, safe shelter, and hot meals to individuals displaced by fire.
Burned Area Emergency Response
BAER teams work on federal land after a wildfire to mitigate damage caused the wildfire and provide information about a wildfire to the public and community partners downstream.
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Bureau of Land Management
The BLM is one of five federal land-management agencies with wildland firefighting responsibilities.
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Community Emergency Reponse Teams CERT
A training program that prepares individuals to help themselves and their neighbors in the event of a disaster. CERT teams also provide critical support under the direction of local emergency responders.
View Community Emergency Reponse Teams CERT
Farm Service Agency
The primary mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency is to assist Utah farmers and ranchers to secure the greatest possible benefit from programs administered by FSA such as farm loans and disaster relief.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during and after a disaster to make sure America is equipped to prepare for and respond to disasters.
View Federal Emergency Management Agency
National Park Service
The U.S. National Park Service Disaster Recovery Program has funding available for historic property owners in eligible communities, interested applicants should contact their state historic preservation office for more information.
National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Provides information on the potential for rainstorms causing flooding in your area. There is a three-tier warning system to alert citizens to the threat posed by developing weather systems:
- Flood Watch – flooding is possible
- Flood Warning – Flooding is or will occur soon, if advised to evacuate, do so immediately
- Flash Flood Warning – A flash flood is occurring, see higher ground immediately
View National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Resources Conservation Services
The goals of the NRCS are to restore and maintain landscapes that are resilient to catastrophic fires, promote fire adapted communities and fire response.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Under Public Law 84-99, USACE can provide emergency assistance during flood events. USACE emergency assistance is intended, by law, to be temporary in order to meet immediate threats. USACE can provide technical assistance to State and local governments with regard to emergency preparedness and planning activities. Assistance is intended for State and local agencies to develop contingency plans, evacuation plans, and exercises to lend expertise in both areas.
View U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Established in 1902, the Bureau of Reclamation is best known for the dams, power plants, and canals it constructed in the 17 western states. It is the largest wholesaler of water in the country bringing water to more than 31 million people, and providing one out of five Western farmers with irrigation water for 10 million acres of farmland that produce 60% of the nation's vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts.
View U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Provides biological advice to other federal and state agencies, industry, and members of the public concerning the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitat that may be affected by development activities. The primary areas of responsibility for the Utah Ecological Services Field Office include, contaminant assessments, endangered species, Federal project reviews, and wetlands conservation.
View U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Forest Service
USFS sustains the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
U.S. Geological Survey
The UGS Geologic Hazards Program has experienced engineering geologists who are available to provide assistance at any time to local governments and the Utah Department of Emergency Management (UDEM) when a geologic emergency occurs.
U.S. Small Business Administration
The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters.
View U.S. Small Business Administration
Utah Association of Conservation Districts
Representing Utah's 38 Local Conservation Districts investing in the future through water and soil conservation.
View Utah Association of Conservation Districts
Utah Department of Public Safety
View Utah Department of Public Safety
Division of Emergency Management
(Division of Homeland Security)
Utah DEM coordinates emergency management efforts among State agencies, in collaboration with federal and local government. These efforts include preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.
View Division of Emergency Management
Utah DEM Geographic Information System
The Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC) is the State of Utah’s map technology coordination office. AGRC staff have knowledge of and experience with geographic information system (GIS) desktop software, hosted map- and web-services, mapping data resources, and GIS professionals and their activities around the state.
View Utah DEM Geographic Information System
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
UDAF oversees dozens of legislatively mandated programs that promote the healthy growth of Utah agriculture, the conservation of natural resources and the protection of the food supply. Two important programs are the Utah Grazing Improvement Program and the Invasive Weeds Mitigation Program. Both work to improve the health of our rangelands and watersheds.
View Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
The mission of the DEQ is to safeguard and improve Utah’s air, land and water through balanced regulation.
View Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Utah Department of Natural Resources
UDNR is one of the state's largest agencies and manages and protects the state's abundant natural resources. The department includes seven divisions: State Parks and Recreation; Oil, Gas and Mining; Forestry, Fire and State Lands; Water Resources; Water Rights; Wildlife Resources and the Utah Geological Survey.
DNR protects Utah's natural resources through active management, which includes engaging state, county and local officials; collaborating with community members, organizations and groups and coordinating with our federal partners. Active management of resources like watersheds, wildlife, oil and gas, minerals and water, allows the state to forecast challenges, solve complex opportunities and anticipate and meet future needs.
View Utah Department of Natural Resources
Utah Department of Transportation
UDOT is responsible for a multimodal transportation system that strengthens the economy and enhances quality of life in communities throughout the state.
View Utah Department of Transportation
Utah Division of Drinking Water
Information on emergency water storage and treatment and resources following disasters.
View Utah Division of Drinking Water
Utah Division of Environmental Response and Remediation
DEQ’s team of highly trained scientists and engineers use scientific information to protect public health and the environment, balance economic needs, and uphold state and federal environmental laws. To do this effectively and efficiently, the agency:
- Monitors air quality, water quality, and drinking water and test soils for contaminants. Monitoring environmental conditions helps the agency protect the public from harmful pollutants and ensure that facilities meet pollution requirements under state and federal laws.
- Issues permits to facilities that put pollutants into the air, water, and soil. Permits place a health-based limit on how much pollution a facility can emit into the air or discharge into the water or onto the land.
- Inspects sources of pollution to make sure they are complying with the law, and if they are not, ensure they correct the problem.
- Enforces state and federal environmental laws.
- Partners with the public and private sector to find solutions to pollution problems. DEQ works closely with a variety of public- and private-sector stakeholders, including the regulated community, other state agencies, local governments, businesses, community organizations, environmental groups, and interested citizens.
- Assists with compliance with state and federal environmental laws through education, outreach, and technical guidance.
- Funds construction of wastewater and drinking water facilities to ensure Utah residents have safe, clean water.
View Utah Division of Environmental Response and Remediation
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Southern Piute Agency, St. George 435-674-9720
Uintah Ouray Agency, Duchesne 435-722-4300
The BIA is one of five federal land management agencies with wildland firefighting responsibilities that receives funding under the Nation Fire Plan (NFP) for projects on tribal reservations. The BIA has completed a hazard assessment for every tribal reservation in Utah. BIA secures funding for BAER teams following wildfires. Assistance Programs:
- Forestry on Indian Lands – financial and technical assistance for forest management activities
- Indian Community Fire Protection – financial assistance for fire protection services
- BIA is also a participating agency in the Rural Fire Assistance Program
View Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Utah Division of Water Resources
The Utah Division of Water Resources is one of the seven divisions housed within the Department of Natural Resources. Tasked with Planning, Conserving, Developing and Protecting Utah’s water resources, the Division earnestly strives to be Utah’s water steward.
View Utah Division of Water Resources
Utah Division of Water Rights
The Utah Division of Water Rights (DWRi) is an agency of Utah State Government within the Department of Natural Resources that administers the appropriation and distribution of the State's valuable water resources.
View Utah Division of Water Rights
Utah Floodplain and Stormwater Management Association
The Utah Floodplain and Stormwater Management Association (UFSMA) is comprised of State and local floodplain managers who share common interests in floodplains, environment protection, the National Flood Insurance Program and floodplain mapping.
View Utah Floodplain and Stormwater Management Association
Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands
FFSL is responsible for forest health, responding to wildland fires, and managing sovereign lands in Utah. Each year hundreds of wildfires start in Utah’s forests, rangelands, and deserts. The Division responds to wildfires on state and private land ensuring that communities, watersheds, rangelands and wildlife habitats don’t suffer catastrophic losses. Private landowners rely on area foresters and fire managers to assist in promoting healthy forested land and planning for safer communities.
View Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands
Utah Geologic Survey
UGS helps communities before or after a wildfire, including early warning rain and stream gauges and debris-flow modeling.
- Evaluate post-fire debris-flow hazard for local communities. Assist Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams in evaluating the debris-flow risk from burned areas.
- Determine active alluvial fan areas to show the areas at risk from fire-related debris flows using LIDAR and best available geologic mapping methods.
- Educate elected officials and homeowners regarding debris-flow hazards, potential impacts, and riskreduction measures. A heightened debris-flow hazard period persists for approximately 3 to 5 years after the fire.
- Participate in emergency response for communities impacted by debris flows. Services include determining the likelihood of another debris-flow event, safety for first responders and others, and the types of geologic information needed to reduce risk.
- Evaluate pre-fire debris-flow hazard for at risk communities to determine flow frequency and volume necessary to evaluate risk-reduction options for longterm and short-term debris-flow hazards. Utah has a history of damaging snowmelt and thunderstorm triggered debris flows not related to fires
Utah State University Extension Services
View Utah State University Extension Services
Utah Weed Control Association
UWCA, was organized in 1986 to bring weed control issues into a greater light and to provide a forum to address ways to improve weed control in the state. The UWCA is comprised of Utah's best weed control professionals striving to implement the best weed management practices available with today's technology.
View Utah Weed Control Association
Western Water Assessment and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
WWA is CIRES’ signature integrating activity, relying on multidisciplinary teams of experts in climate, hydrology, ecology, law, and policy to work with decision makers across the Rocky Mountain West to produce policy-relevant information about climate variability and change. WWA is one of 10 NOAA-funded Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) programs across the country. Through relationships with decision makers and other stakeholders, WWA develops practical research programs and useful information products. WWA’s mission is to conduct innovative research in partnership with decision makers in the Rocky Mountain West, helping them make the best use of science to manage for climate impacts. WWA addresses NOAA’s mission, strategic goals, and crosscutting priorities, as well as other Congressional NOAA mandates, including the U.S. Global Change Research Act and the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.
View Western Water Assessment and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
Definitions:
Bedload: the sand, gravel, boulders, or other debris transported by rolling or sliding along the bottom of a stream.
Channel Deflector or Vane: act to guide flow away from bank, reduce bank erosion, promote local sedimentation and encourage vegetation growth. Common names and designs include j-hooks, rock barbs, and single- or double-wing deflectors.
Debris Flow: a moving mass of mud, sand, soil, rock, water and in the case of wildfires, woody material (tree branches of all sizes) that travels down a slope under the influence of gravity.
Ephemeral Stream: ephemeral portions of streams flow only in direct response to precipitation. Dry washes and arroyos are generally classified as ephemeral streams.
Fill slope: the surface area formed where soil is deposited to build a road or trail.
Hillslope: Hill side.
Inslope (road): grade slopes toward inside ditch.
Outslope (road): grade slopes toward fill slope.
Outsloping: the downhill side of a road where the side of the road slopes with the hill at or near the natural contour and runoff is allowed to drain down the hill without being channeled into a ditch or other water-control device. Outslopes are usually associated with a road in steep terrain which is literally cut into the side of the hill.
Overside Drains: pipes, downdrains and spillways used to protect slopes against erosion by collecting surface runoff and conveying it down the slope to stable drainage.
Road Template: the shape and cross-sectional dimensions of a roadway.
Runoff: Movement of water across surface areas of a watershed during rainfall events.
Slope/Grade: refers to the inclination of a physical feature, landform or constructed line to the horizontal.