06/02/2026
Newton Reservoir has always felt like a quiet place to me.
When I photographed it in March 2024, the water had transformed part of the shoreline into a mirror, reflecting the trees and creating one of those scenes that make you stop and simply observe.
Today, Newton Reservoir is reported to be below 36% of its capacity.
Looking back at these photographs, I find myself wondering how different the shoreline looks now.
For years, Utah has been facing the challenges of an ongoing megadrought. Recently, the state entered a new phase of concern as Governor Spencer Cox declared a statewide emergency over declining water supplies.
Places like Newton Reservoir remind me that water is more than a resource. It shapes landscapes, wildlife, recreation, agriculture, and the memories we create around it.
Sometimes photographs become a record of what was.
Sometimes they become a reminder of what is worth protecting.
— Ana
