Antelope Island has been called the gem of Davis County. For Nahuel Tulian, it’s much more than that.

“If I can help to connect one person on my guided hikes with the importance of water conservation, that is a big win for me,” said Tulian, who runs the guided hiking program at Antelope Island where he educates people about the habitat of the island and the importance of its conservation. “What most people don’t realize is how crucial the Great Salt Lake and its water levels are to our economic and physical health.”   

Tulian created the guided hiking program at Antelope Island through an internship as part of a final project for his degree at the University of Utah. He graduates next spring, with his bachelor’s in Environmental and Sustainability studies with an emphasis is Land Management and Conservation.

“I am not an expert yet, since I am just completing my undergrad, but what I have learned is the importance of the decisions we make on an individual level,” said Tulian. 

“On my guided hikes, I try to make sustainability the focus,” he said. “It’s imperative that people hear that this place won’t be here if we don’t change our habits.” 

This year, the water levels of the Great Salt Lake are at a new historic low, Tulian said. “The Great Salt Lake is drying up and we are in an ‘extreme drought.’ We, as a society, are not changing our water usage, which means that there is little to no water that is actually returning to the lake.”  

The Great Salt Lake is the eighth largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. “Historically, when salt lakes dry up, that surrounding area faces a huge dust problem,” he said. “The sediment that was sitting at the bottom will get picked up by the wind. Some of that dust will blow into the city causing more extreme air pollution and some will blow into the mountains causing the snow to melt faster. Without the Great Salt Lake we will not get lake effect snow. Less snow means less skiers.” 

In 2019, the winter sports industry brought in $1.55 billion to the state’s economy, said Tulian. “If we lose the Great Salt Lake, our economy and health will take a hit.” 

Taking shorter showers is not going to make the biggest difference, he said. “But zero scaping and watering your lawn less will. As a society we need to develop more sustainable irrigation methods. But most importantly, it’s about using your voice. Your voice is your vote.” 

In the future Tulian hopes to continue his career with the parks. “My dream is to become a Park Ranger or Conservation Officer for a National Park,” he said. This internship is a great first step. 

“I developed a strong connection to nature growing up through frequent fishing trips with my father and spending a lot of time outdoors,” said Tulian. 

In his spare time, Tulian enjoys mountain biking, fishing and bird watching. “I like to pick up new hobbies, so currently I am researching bow hunting for big game and fly fishing.”  

Join Tulian on a guided nature hike on Wednesdays and Thursdays until Dec. 1. More information and the full schedule can be found at https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/antelope-island/park-programs-and-events/