FARMINGTON—It was a historic day on Wednesday as state leaders, researchers, philanthropists and advocates came together at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center to sign the Great Salt Lake 2034 Charter, a pledge to protect and restore the lake for future generations. The target date to reach better lake levels is 2034 – the same year as the Winter Olympics will be held in Utah. 

“This is a special day for all of us,” said Gov. Spencer J. Cox. “We just had an incredible meeting with stakeholders from all across the great State of Utah. We’re standing here on the shores of the beautiful and precious Great Salt Lake. The takeaway today is that we will not let the Great Salt Lake fail – period.”

Cox said the Great Salt Lake is a part of what the state is. “It of course is part of our economy and that matters. It’s part of our geography, which is truly important.”

It’s more than that, said Cox. “It’s the namesake of our capital city. It’s part of our environment, it’s part of our culture. It’s part of the soul of Utah. It’s who we are and what we’re known for across the world and across time from the very beginning.”

Not only do millions of people across the world recognize this place because of its name and saline body of water but tens of millions of migratory birds come here each year and that matters, he said. “We have done so much over the past couple of years. I hear that too many people don’t understand all the great things that have happened. The legislature, the private sector, and the nonprofit sector are working together to help preserve this lake.”

Progress to date

Over the past three years, Utah has taken decisive action to strengthen the Great Salt Lake, including:

• Cutting thousands of acres of invasive, water-sucking plants.

• Launching hundreds of agricultural optimization projects to reduce water use.

• Installing thousands of secondary water meters to track and conserve every drop.

• Expanding voluntary water leasing to keep water in the lake.

• Passing timely, commonsense legislation to restore the ecosystem.

“There’s so much more that we have to do,” said Cox. “Our commitment today is that we are doubling down and preserving this lake with additional investments. Today with this charter that we have signed, we’re asking all Utahns, families, farmers, business leaders, researchers, elected officials to stand shoulder to shoulder in their commitment to save and restore the lake.”

Cox said he appreciates the philanthropic community that announced about $200 million of fundraising investments that they are committing toward the lake.

• Great Salt Lake Rising, a coalition led by Josh Romney, committed $100 million to projects that will deliver water to the lake and improve habitat.

• Ducks Unlimited, the nation’s leading wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization, pledged an additional $100 million to restoration and conservation efforts.

“We are committed to this, not just for the 2034 Olympics and setting that goal but for the next 100 years,” said Speaker Mike Shultz. “I hope that as we move through this process that we’re not just thinking about 5, 10, 15 years down the road but we’re thinking about the next generation that comes after us.”

“We’ve had some really good water years,” said Cox. “I think that made too many people think that ‘oh, the Great Salt Lake is fine’ – it’s not fine.”

Restoring the Great Salt Lake is a generational commitment, not a one year fix, he said. “This work is about the next century, not just the next decade. When the world comes to Utah in 2034, they will see more than healthy lake levels. They will see proof that when Utahns unite around a challenge, there is nothing we cannot do.”