Study examines rock glaciers as potential late-summer water sources in drought-stricken Utah
Brigham Young University geologists and collaborators surveyed nearly 100 rock glaciers across Utah and Colorado, sampling outlet streams and analyzing water chemistry. They found most outflows have excellent water quality, suggesting these hidden ice masses could supplement water supplies during dry periods. The research aims to inform water management strategies as the region faces persistent drought.
The research team spent six weeks trekking to nearly 100 rock glacier sites across Utah and Colorado, collecting water and macroinvertebrate samples for laboratory analysis of chemistry and trace metals. The Timpanogos Rock Glacier, which feeds Emerald Lake, was among the locations studied.
Because snowmelt supplies roughly 95 percent of Utah's water, these ice-and-debris masses could offer a meaningful supplement during dry late-summer months. Graduate student Lerato Thoka-Cole hopes to apply the findings to water-scarce regions in Africa, where substantial groundwater sits in underground aquifers.
If rock glacier outflows prove consistently clean, water managers in drought-prone western states could gain an additional tool for planning late-season supplies. Communities that rely almost entirely on snowmelt may find these hidden reservoirs useful during extended dry periods, though the total volume they can provide remains uncertain. The research may also inform conservation education, as the fieldwork has already inspired students toward more careful stewardship of mountain water resources.