Updated March 25, 2020
During these unprecedented times, the health and safety of our staff and customers is most important. To comply with the Coronavirus Community Task Force’s recommendation to social distance, the majority of our agency staff is teleworking. Our Salt Lake City headquarters, and regional offices remain open at this time, but with minimal staffing.
Please do not visit in person if you are sick. We strongly encourage customers to contact us by phone before visiting an office. Calling ahead will help determine if your request can be met by phone, internet or other means. In an effort to maintain an appropriate level of service, we have provided below a summary of some of the most commonly asked questions broken out by division, and suggestions for obtaining answers. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
To contact Department administration, please call 801-538-7202. If you’re looking for Utah’s official COVID-19 website, it can be found here.
Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands
- View your home’s wildfire risk level.
- Now is a great time to prepare for wildfire season. Click here for tips and recommendations.
- For a free consultation with a Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) expert, call your local area office of the Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands and ask for the “Wildland Urban Interface” coordinator. Click here for office locations.
- Open burning is allowed without a permit from the Division until June 1. In many areas an air quality permit is still required. The application is here:
- There are currently no campfire restrictions in Utah, but fuels are drying out and several fires have happened. Keep your outdoor adventures safe and practice good campfire etiquette. Learn more here.
- Find some of Utah’s most secluded areas of “Sovereign Lands” here.
- The Division offers assistance to private owners of forested lands. Help is available.
Division of Oil, Gas and Mining
As a regulatory agency, the Division works closely with industry operator and not the general public. If you have business with the Division, please call or email staff before coming in to make sure necessary staff is available. If you need to leave a message, staff will get back to you as soon as possible. The Division is taking all steps necessary to ensure a quality level of service is maintained, while protecting the health and well-being of our staff.
- General phone is 801-538-5340.
- Click here for the Abandoned Mine Reclamation directory.
- Click here for the Coal Program directory.
- Click here for the Minerals Program directory.
- Click here for the Oil and Gas Program directory.
Division of Parks and Recreation
Circumstance surrounding COVID-19 are impacting recreational opportunities at some state parks. The situation is fluid and changing frequently, so we ask customers to plan ahead and check with the park you’re interested in visiting. We encourage everyone to use healthy hygiene habits, and to maintain social distancing recommendations while visiting our parks.
- Wondering if a specific park is open? Click here for the most updated information available. Scroll down to the graph at the bottom of the page.
- Visit stateparks.utah.gov to learn more about the amenities and services of parks near you.
- Online reservations, park pass purchases, and non-resident OHV permit purchases are still available online. These purchases can also be made by phone at 800-322-2770.
- Park pamphlets, field guides, maps, and law highlight booklets for OHV and boating are available for download online.
- Do you currently have an overnight reservation scheduled at one of Utah’s 44 state parks between now and mid-April and need to cancel? Please call 800-322-3770, or visit our the website of our reservation partner, Reserve America.
- Utah State Parks is following the guidance and recommendations of our health partners. This includes Social Distancing by limiting the size of groups, as well as “Clean-Avoid-Cover” guidelines.
Division of Water Resources
The Division will have limited staff in the office during this unprecedented time. Our first priority is to protect our staff and customers, while also serving the public.
- Before coming into our offices, we ask that customers please call us first at 801-538-7230.
- Having difficulty reaching someone? Consider contacting our section managers directly. Contact information can be found here.
- Water is critical. It makes sense that people would get concerned at the thought of something like COVID-19 disrupting the water supply. We are confident the shutdown of the public water system is highly unlikely.
- COVID-19 is primarily transmitted person-to-person. Public water systems treat and disinfect water by chlorinating it. This process kills multiple pathogens and water-borne viral infections, including coronavirus, that can affect your health. The Department of Environmental Quality provides some great additional information.
Division of Water Rights
In an effort to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19, the Division of Water Rights is limiting person-to-person contact. An appoint is now required before visiting one of our offices. Please contact us by telephone or email to conduct business.
Call 801-538-7240 to schedule an appointment in our Salt Lake City office, or see the contact list for regional offices here.
Division of Wildlife Resources
Though our offices will remain open during business hours, we are strongly encouraging our customers to hop online or give us a call if they have fish and wildlife questions and needs. Remember, you can buy your licenses online and download them to your phone via our app.
Other online resources that might come in handy include the following:
- General contact information for our Salt Lake City headquarters and regional offices can be found here.
- Explanations of Utah’s hunting and fishing laws can be found in our guidebooks.
- Buy licenses and permits online.
- Download the Utah Hunting & Fishing app here.
- Check the latest fishing reports.
- See the Utah Hunt Planner.
- Subscribe to email updates here.
- Report a poacher by calling 800-662-3337, or online here.
Utah Geological Survey
To limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect our staff and community, the Utah Geological Survey (UGS) has enacted the following with a goal of limiting operational impacts, while encouraging customers to use online or telephone resources wherever possible:
- The UGS, Salt Lake City office is open, but most staff is teleworking. Our staff directory is available here. A limited number of staff will be in the office to accommodate walk in customers.
- The UGS, Southern Utah office is open with both of its two staff members in the office during normal business hours. It’s recommend you call ahead at 435-865-9036.
- The Natural Resources Map & Bookstore is operating with reduced hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Online and phone orders are encouraged, but walk in customers are permitted. The phone number is 801-537-3320, or 1-888-UTAHMAP Toll Free.
- The UGS library is closed to walk in customers. The library’s catalog can be accessed online here. Please contact Suzanne Sawyer, Librarian, by emailing ssawyer@utah.gov or by calling (801) 537-3333 or (801) 538-4846 if you have questions.
- The UGS’s Utah Core Research Center has canceled all public meetings through the end of April. For more information please call (801) 537-3359 or email Peter Nielsen at peternielsen@utah.gov.