Save Our Great Salt Lake: Utah’s Urgent Call to Action

A new lawsuit filed Wednesday by a coalition of environmental groups claims that Utah state government officials have caused the Great Salt Lake to teeter on the edge of an ecological collapse. The officials allowed upstream water to be diverted away from the lake, primarily to farmers growing alfalfa, hay, and other crops for decades, according to the lawsuit. Utah’s Republican-led Legislature has taken some action in response to the lake’s record low water levels in 2021, but the coalition, which includes Earthjustice, the Utah Rivers Council, and Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, is not satisfied, reports the AP.

The coalition is seeking court intervention to compel the state to allow more water to reach the Great Salt Lake. The lake, which is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, is not only a vital habitat for millions of migratory birds, but also a crucial component of Utah’s billion-dollar mineral industry and a popular tourist attraction. “We are trying to avert disaster. We are trying to force the hand of state government to take serious action,” said Brian Moench of the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. Although state officials have acknowledged the importance of restoring the lake, its long-term prospects remain bleak, despite a temporary increase in water levels this summer due to record winter snowfall.

• The Great Salt Lake has experienced a drastic decline in water levels, which has caused its footprint to shrink by half over the past few decades. Climate change has played a significant role in reducing the mountain streams that feed the lake, while the demand for freshwater has surged due to new development, agriculture, and industry. The Utah government faces the challenge of balancing the water needs of businesses and citizens with maintaining a safe level for the lake.

• The lawsuit emphasizes that the risks associated with a diminished Great Salt Lake extend beyond the inconvenience of stranded sailboats and wider beaches. It threatens species extinction and the formation of toxic dust clouds that harm nearby communities. The organizations suing the state argue that the problems caused by rationing freshwater upstream are minor compared to the irreversible consequences of a disappearing lake.
• Toxic chemicals, such as arsenic, lead, and mercury, are trapped on the lakebed. As more of the lakebed becomes exposed and dries, these chemicals are susceptible to being carried by the wind, resulting in toxic dust storms. According to Brian Moench, past instances of lakes drying up around the world have led to lower life expectancies, increased cancer rates, and higher infant mortality rates. Preventing the Great Salt Lake from drying up is crucial for the well-being of nearby communities.
• The shrinking lake poses a threat to millions of birds that migrate along the Pacific Flyway, a route stretching from the southern tip of Chile to Alaska. As the lake becomes saltier, it endangers the brine flies that serve as a vital food source for these migrating birds. Deeda Seed of the Center for Biological Diversity highlights the potential repercussions of this, explaining that bird species like the Wilson’s phalarope, a shorebird that breeds in North America and winters near the Andes mountains, will struggle to find sufficient nutrients.
• One consequence of the shrinking lake is the displacement of a pelican colony on a Great Salt Lake island. The island has turned into a peninsula, allowing coyotes to access it and disrupt the colony. The situation is urgent, and according to Deeda Seed, action needs to be taken immediately to prevent bird species from facing extinction and communities along the Wasatch Front from experiencing toxic dust events.

(Read more Great Salt Lake stories.)