The Great Salt Lake is slowly drying up

Climate change and evaporation, an increase in population, agricultural irrigation and human consumption of the lake water are all contributing factors to water levels dropping in the Great Salt Lake.

“As the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere, the Great Salt Lake is crucial to both people and nature,” according to the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. It’s shrinking at about four inches per year.

“I remember going there as a kid, thinking it was really cool and a good memory with my family,” said Elsie Swiderski, a student at BYU. “It’s sad to think that it’s slowly drying up. I’m always concerned when beautiful places are going to waste.” 

The “bottom of the lake contains pollutants such as arsenic, lead, and mercury,” which can cause significant health concerns if released. (https://www.housing.utah.edu/whats-going-on-salt-lake/). The dust storms that come from the lakebed can be harmful to humans and can even cause respiratory illnesses. It also worsens our air quality. The exposed lakebed has a salty crust over it, so it helps prevent dust storms, but there are still toxic minerals in the lake that can be uncovered. The dust affects people all along the Wasatch Front. The dust from the lake can affect the snow, which can affect skiing because it increases the melting rate.

“Without intervention, the Great Salt Lake is on track to become one of the largest dust emission sources in North America,” according to Save Our Great Salt Lake. 

During the winter, the water level rises, but because we have had really hot summers, the water level lowers in the summer. 

“All of the snow from the 2023 massive year just brought the Great Salt Lake back to the minimum, entering into critical levels,” said Karyn Baxter, North Salt Lake City Engineer. “So, we really still need to be cautious.” 

The aquifer levels are continuing to drop, and if there’s not enough water in the aquifer, we could accidentally take water from the Great Salt Lake. The lake is about 36% full, according to Grow the Flow Utah’s Great Salt Lake tracker. 

“I am passionate about saving the Salt Lake and I wish that more action was taken immediately, especially with how much water is taken from it before it even reaches the lake,” said Ava Epling, another student at Utah State University. 

History of the lake

The Great Salt Lake was once part of Lake Bonneville. In the early 1900s, there was an attraction near the lake called Saltair. Saltair was originally built in 1893. It burned down in 1925 and Saltair II was built. It burned down in 1931 and was closed in 1958. Efforts to bring it back ended when it was burned down again in 1970 by an arsonist. In 1981 Saltair III was built.

The ecosystem there is collapsing

“I think [The Great Salt Lake is] beautiful. I can see it from my house, and it’s such a pretty view,” said Samantha Carpenter, a student at Utah State University. “It’s also a super important part of the ecosystem.” 

The Great Salt Lake is home to over 330 species of birds and other animals like bison and pronghorn. Some of the birds eat the brine flies and shrimp, so if they die out because of too much salinity, the birds won’t have anything to eat. Less water in the lake can mean more wandering wildlife. Some of the birds, like pelicans, have been forced to leave altogether. 

“I love the Great Salt Lake, especially the Farmington Bay area that is so crucial to bird migration,” said Epling.

There is also a significant population of brine shrimp, which are harvested and given to the fish and shellfish that we eat. Harvesting the brine shrimp eggs and selling them brings in millions of dollars. The less water in the lake, the higher the salt content, which makes the lake smell worse (the brine shrimp also contribute to the smell), and the extra salt isn’t good for the brine shrimp. They can’t survive in water that is too salty. The salinity levels of the lake fluctuate between 5% and 27% according to Antelope Island State Park. The lake is divided. The microbiomes change the color of the lake. One side of the lake looks pink. It’s about 30% salt, which is close to 10 times what the ocean is. The other side has less salinity at about 15%, so life can develop. On this side, the water is either green, when the algae are present, or blue. The lake is so salty because there’s no outlet; it’s a closed-circuit system.

The lake has minerals in it and it provides valuable resources like magnesium, potassium, and salt. Many things are made using these resources, including soda cans, which are made of magnesium. 

“The level of the lake is impactful to our greater community and to us directly,” said Baxter. The lake levels haven’t been this low in over 170 years. The decreasing lake can affect our water supply. 

How can we help save the lake?

One of the biggest ways the community can help save the Great Salt Lake is by reducing outdoor water use and water consumption in general. This means watering our lawns even one day less per week. Using drip lines and switching to drought-tolerant plants can also help with this. Research shows that the lake will disappear by 2030, so we’re running out of time to save the lake. 

Our state can have water delivered to the lake to help it rise. There has been some wetland restoration around the lake because the wetlands around the lake need to stay wet so that vegetation can grow. This vegetation provides shelter for the birds. Without that shelter, the birds would be easier targets for predators. There have been organizations that have helped save the lake and the wetlands. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has “enhanced or created more than 400 new acres of wetlands on [their] properties, benefitting birds such as white-faced ibis, long-billed curlews, and great blue herons,” according to TNC. 

“Restoring the Great Salt Lake to health will not be a one-year, one-policy, one-constituency solution,” said Brian Steed, Great Salt Lake Commissioner, Great Salt Lake Strike Team Co-Chair. “Rather, a coordinated, data-driven approach will be necessary so decision-makers can evaluate tradeoffs and balance competing interests.” The Strike Team can help with this; many researchers work with Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and more. Another way we can help preserve the lake is by donating to companies like Friends of Great Salt Lake, Grow the Flow, and The Great Salt Lake Shoreland Preserve. We can also get involved in preservation groups. Talking to the legislature about the Great Salt Lake can inform them that saving the lake is important.