GREAT SALT LAKE—When most skiers think of Utah, Davis County isn’t the first place that comes to mind. However, there’s a big reason why Davis, and skiers the world over should be concerned with what happens to the eastern part of the county, namely, the Great Salt Lake. As surprising as it may seem, the lake plays a huge role in creating the Greatest Snow on Earth. But what makes Utah’s snow the “greatest”?

For skiers, the powder in Utah is ideal. The snow that falls on the mountains here is drier and aptly described as powder, allowing for skiers to cut down the mountainsides with relative ease. It’s one thing that contributed greatly to the success of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and which makes Utah a hotspot for Olympic athletes training for future games. It’s also a huge draw for the International Olympic Committee as they eye Utah for a second chance at the games.

Part of what makes this snow possible is the semiarid climate which pervades much of the state. Utah is a high desert, which means that there is relatively little humidity year-round. This means that any snow that falls is going to be literally drier than in other areas that may be more humid. That’s not the only factor, however. The Great Salt Lake plays a huge role in making Utah’s snow the best on earth.

In addition to the low humidity, the Great Salt Lake contributes, according to one study, at least 10% of Utah’s annual snowfall through what’s called “lake effect.” Many on the Wasatch Front may be familiar with this term, but, the basic idea of lake effect occurs when cold wind blows clouds over a large body of warmer water, like a lake. Water vapor, from that warm lake, at lower elevations rises to meet those clouds where it cools, crystalizes, and falls as snow downwind of the lake. 

The ecosystem here, and anywhere in the world, is a delicate one. When something as big as the Great Salt Lake is eliminated, the effects that ripple out are long-lasting, and can be devastating. Many people already know about the ecological disaster the dried-up Great Salt Lake would be, but the long-term economic effects would also spell doom for everyone in the state who depends on income from ski and snowboarding tourism. 

The lake itself has been fortunate these past two years to have significant runoff to bolster its levels, but, there’s a long way to go before the lake reaches sustainable levels once more. According to the US Geological Survey, the Great Salt Lake needs around nine more feet to be in a good position ecologically, economically, and recreationally. Put in perspective, from its lowest point coming off a drought in 2022 to its highest following a record snowpack in 2023, the lake rose only five feet.

If Utah had two more years of record snow, which would certainly cause other issues, the lake would return to a healthy level. Hope isn’t lost, though: Many across the state, including some in the legislature are aware of and are taking steps to prevent the drying up of the lake. At the end of the day, however, much of it will boil down to conservation on the part of every resident, not using more water than is necessary, and bringing issues concerning the lake to their representatives.