The loss of the Great Salt Lake

Conservation Groups Sue Utah for Starving the 

Great Salt Lake of Water

From Treehugger's newsletter Sept 6, 2023

by Melissa Breyer 

 "Among the many splendors of the western United States, the Great Salt Lake has long stood out as an iconic jewel. As the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and the eighth-largest terminal lake in the world, it provides habitat for millions of migratory birds, among other organisms, and supports a variety of industries, contributing billions of dollars to Utah’s economy.

The lake receives its water from several rivers and precipitation—but upstream diversions are wreaking havoc on the body of water. Water levels have dropped significantly enough that the lake is poised for ecological collapse as well as impacts on human health throughout the region.

Now, a new lawsuit says state officials have breached their trust obligations to Utahns by failing to take appropriate and necessary action to address the crisis and protect the lake. "

"The lawsuit seeks a court order directing Utah’s leaders to implement meaningful solutions that will provide enough water to the Great Salt Lake for the people and wildlife that depend on it.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the complaint was filed in 3rd District Court and invokes the public trust doctrine, "claiming the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has failed in its duty to protect the largest saline ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere for the benefit of its residents."

Depleted water leaves sediments exposed, resulting in the potential for fine particulates and toxic pollutants—including arsenic, mercury, and other toxic substances—to be carried into nearby communities.

“In other parts of the world, where saline lakes have been allowed to shrivel up because of upstream diversions like those happening at the Great Salt Lake, the end result has been public health disasters from the clouds of relentless toxic dust,” said Dr. Brian Moench, President of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. “Utah’s leaders are prioritizing these water diversions over protecting their own people, so the courts must intervene.”

In the last three years, upstream diversions for agriculture, residences, and industry have led to a yearly deficit of more than 1 million acre-feet of water, notes a press release from Earthjustice, the non-profit representing the groups. As a result, the group explains, the lake’s elevation recently dropped below the point experts say is necessary for its continued viability.

“The Great Salt Lake belongs to the people of Utah and the state has a legal obligation to protect this resource,” said Stu Gillespie, Senior Attorney for Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain office. “But the state has sidestepped that obligation and failed to respond to the crisis facing the lake. Upstream water diversions threaten the lake’s biodiversity, industries that depend on the lake, and human health throughout the region. It is time for Utah officials to address the problem and safeguard this public resource.” 

Great Salt Lake by Skynews.com

It really may be too late, according to a friend in the Swannanoa Watershed Action Network. Our climate crisis is not only being blamed for wildfires, floods, heat waves, storms but certainly is impacting droughts that are exacerbated by poor water management.

Today's quote:

Reality is the leading cause of stress among those in touch with it. —Lily Tomlin