The ones who put it in writing.
Park managers, public agencies, and community leaders who reviewed our mission and signed their names behind it. These are their letters, in their words, on their letterhead.
Signed, sealed, on the record.
Every letter below is a real document from a real official, scanned exactly as it was signed. Open the transcript to read it, or view the original scan in full screen.
Marsha Judkins
“This is the kind of local effort that protects Utah Lake, the Provo River corridor, and waterways across our state for generations to come.”
Mayor’s Office · 445 W Center St, Provo, UT 84601 · (801) 852-6105
Date: July 7, 2026
To Whom It May Concern:
As the Mayor of Provo City, I am glad to offer my support for Fathom Restoration, a Utah-based, veteran-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 42-2166469) dedicated to removing submerged vehicles, vessels, and debris from Utah’s public waters and to protecting the state’s limited fresh water. Provo sits on the shore of Utah Lake, so this work is close to home for our city and the people who live here.
Utah Lake is one of Provo’s defining natural assets, and it is under real pressure. Provo Bay sees recurring public health advisories. State and federal partners have invested tens of millions of dollars in the Provo River Delta restoration, which helps recover the June sucker, a fish found only in Utah Lake. Our new Delta Gateway Park and boat harbor have opened the lakefront to more residents than ever. Submerged vehicles and abandoned debris add a preventable layer of contamination on top of the lake’s existing challenges. As they deteriorate, they leach fuel, oil, and other fluids into the same water our community relies on for recreation, wildlife habitat, and source-water protection. These hazards usually sit beyond the reach of ordinary cleanup efforts, and no single public agency is funded to remove them.
Fathom Restoration is working to close that gap. Its phased, safety-first approach, from volunteer shoreline and shallow-water cleanups today to permitted, insured, and professionally crewed recovery of submerged vehicles as its capacity grows, is exactly the kind of careful, mission-driven work our waters need. The organization is led by a volunteer board of military veterans, is federally recognized as a public charity, and has done the research and groundwork to move forward responsibly. To my knowledge, it is the only veteran-led underwater debris recovery nonprofit in Utah.
I support Fathom Restoration’s mission and encourage funders, agencies, and community partners to give its work favorable consideration. This is the kind of local effort that protects Utah Lake, the Provo River corridor, and waterways across our state for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Marsha Judkins
Provo City Mayor
Transcribed from the signed original. Use “View Letter” to see the scan.
Stephen Studebaker
“We enthusiastically welcome Fathom Restoration’s efforts to engage Utah’s veteran community in meaningful conservation work at our facility.”
Stephen Studebaker
Park Manager
Deer Creek State Park
Date: May 29, 2026
To: Grant Selection Committee (NEEF)
1150 18th Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
Subject: Letter of Support for Fathom Restoration — “Veterans Restore Deer Creek” Project
Dear Members of the Selection Committee,
On behalf of Deer Creek State Park, I am pleased to provide this formal letter of support for Fathom Restoration’s application for the NEEF 2026 Veterans and Nature Grant.
About Deer Creek State Park
Deer Creek State Park is a premier Utah State Park and vital public recreational waterway located in Wasatch County, Utah. Managed by the Utah Division of State Parks, the reservoir encompasses approximately 3,500 surface acres and provides essential culinary water to nearly 2 million residents. In addition, access for boating, fishing, camping, and a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities. Preserving the environmental integrity of this heavily utilized natural resource is a top priority for our division.
Aligned Mission and Impact
Fathom Restoration (EIN: 42-2166469) is a Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission to clean, restore, and protect Utah’s waterways directly complements our own conservation goals. We are fully supportive of their proposed program, “Veterans Restore Deer Creek.” This initiative will bring structured conservation events to Deer Creek, engaging volunteer divers and surface teams in critical underwater and shoreline cleanup operations. Additionally, the program’s focus on environmental education will foster community awareness regarding the long-term importance of waterway conservation.
Commitment to Collaboration
This project perfectly aligns with our park’s commitment to public access, environmental stewardship, and community benefit. We enthusiastically welcome Fathom Restoration’s efforts to engage Utah’s veteran community in meaningful conservation work at our facility.
I fully support this application for NEEF grant funding and look forward to coordinating closely with the Fathom Restoration team as the program develops.
Sincerely,
Stephen Studebaker
Park Manager, Deer Creek State Park · Utah Division of State Parks
Transcribed from the signed original. Use “View Letter” to see the scan.
In addition to being an environmental hazard, abandoned submerged vessels are also a recreation hazard. With Utah Lake’s naturally shallow levels, averaging about 10 feet deep when full, abandoned vessels create hidden underwater obstacles and a boating and water safety hazard. We feel it’s important that these vessels be removed, for both the environmental benefit and the improvement to boating safety.
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