The Great Salt Lake in Utah is in danger of completely evaporating if the lake continues to shrink at its current rates, according to a warning from researchers and environmental officials.
The iconic ultra-salty lake, larger in square mileage than the state of Rhode Island, is currently losing an average of 1.2 million acre-feet per year, according to a 34-page report released by a group of researchers last week. The lake’s current water levels sit at 19 feet below its average, and it has lost 73% of its water and 60% of its surface area since 1850.
LOCAL ISSUES LIKE GREAT SALT LAKE EROSION IN UTAH BECOME POTENT CAMPAIGN CUDGELS
The lake’s shrinking water levels, which threaten the state’s surrounding ecosystem, air quality, and economic growth, have prompted state legislators and local officials to begin allocating federal dollars toward preserving it. However, local researchers are calling on lawmakers to do more — lamenting that current efforts are not enough to preserve the crucial body of water.
“Despite encouraging growth in legislative action and public awareness, most Utahns do not realize the urgency of this crisis,” the report reads. “Without a coordinated rescue, we can expect widespread air and water pollution, numerous Endangered Species Act listings, and declines in agriculture, industry, and overall quality of life.”
The Great Salt Lake, which is a terminal lake, relies on a consistent inflow of water to maintain its water levels because it only retains water that flows into it and does not outflow to other bodies of water. This has historically been done by melting snowfall in the Utah mountains that is diverted to the lake via small streams and rivers.
However, as the state has experienced a surge in population growth, more and more of this water has been diverted to other sources, such as farms, residential areas, and businesses. This process, combined with climate change, has greatly reduced water levels in the lake.
As water continues to shrink, that salinity could reach 17% by the end of the summer and threaten the algae in the water. The algae is a crucial food source for brine shrimp that live in the lake, which in turn are crucial food sources for the millions of migratory birds that travel through the area each year.
The shrinking water levels pose an even greater threat to the surrounding population: As the lake recedes, more dust that contains harmful contaminants such as arsenic and copper, which have settled in the lake due to nearby mining, become airborne.
Researchers have proposed a list of things local lawmakers can do to avoid the lake’s disappearance, pressing for legislation that “allows users to return water to the lake while retaining rights.”
One such proposal urges the governor to create an emergency streamflow requirement of at least 2.5 million acre-feet per year until the lake reaches a minimum healthy elevation of 4,198, according to the report. One acre-foot holds about 300,000 gallons of water.
Researchers predict the lake needs to receive an additional 1 million acre-feet a year to reverse its decline, which would require cutting water use in the state by at least one-third. Current efforts have returned only 0.1 million acre-feet to the lake each year, with most of that water being held in reservoirs or transferred to other sources rather than being returned to the lake.
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The report also calls on lawmakers to approve funding to lease or purchase water and support farmers and surrounding cities to reduce their water consumption. Additionally, researchers are urging Utah residents to conserve water by reducing their individual use.
“We are in an all-hands-on-deck emergency, and we need farmers, counties, cities, businesses, churches, universities, and other organizations to do everything in their power to reduce outdoor water use,” the report states. “We believe that our community is uniquely suited to face this challenge, but only if we implement a unified and pioneering rescue. By taking a “lake first” approach to water use, we can leave a legacy of wise stewardship for generations to come.”
