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When I was 16 years old, I hopped into a truck with my dad and grandpa and headed to Lake Powell. It was during fall break, so it was mid-October and the weather was gorgeous — days in the mid-70s to low-80s with the water still retaining much of its warmth from summer. 

I’d previously visited Lake Powell on houseboat trips with my extended family, but for this excursion it was just the three of us and a 1985 Sun Runner. It had a small cabin area where my grandpa slept while the captain’s chair and passenger chair folded down into benches that my dad and I slept on. 

We put in at Bullfrog Marina and spent the next few days motoring around the lake, fishing, and sightseeing. We visited Forgotten Canyon and the ancestral Puebloan dwelling tucked along its cliff walls known as Defiance House.

It was an incredible trip.

And while this wasn’t my introduction to recreation and time spent outdoors — I grew up exploring many of the outdoor wonders Utah has to offer — it was an experience that really hammered home our state’s ancient history, the human impact and role of water on a landscape, and the importance of responsible recreation.

In the decades since that trip, that sense of responsibility has only grown. The Lake Powell that I grew up visiting is not the Lake Powell my children now experience. It’s still incredible, just different. There are many challenges and pressures facing our state, but there is also incredible research being done and care being taken in the face of those challenges. 

As Utah’s second worst fire year on record winds down, Utah State researchers are working to better predict the hazards, such as flash flooding, wildfires leave in their wake. Research is also taking place to better understand the challenges facing Utah’s big game animals — moose, elk, and deer — as a changing climate, along with parasites and diseases, pose threats. 

Outside of the state, it was fascinating to hear about College of Engineering graduate Dustin Mortensen’s experience building a dam in Texas and the impact it will have on the area for both recreation and water access for decades to come. That interview also opened my eyes to the Utah Water Research Lab’s impact over the years, where their models have saved millions.

It was exciting to talk to current students and recent graduates from USU’s Outdoor Programs. While the opportunities provided to both Utah State students and the public through their services are incredible, what was truly amazing to hear about is the leadership experience and management skills gained by the program’s trip leaders. 

And finally, I loved hearing from USU’s student leaders across the state and learning about some pretty unique spots in places our Aggies call home.

Go Aggies!

Timothy R. Olsen | Managing Editor