Great Salt Lake gets a financial boost to combat drought

• $100 million invested to revive the shrinking Great Salt Lake.
• Federal and Utah funds unite for water conservation efforts.
• Programs aim to optimize agriculture and deliver more water to the lake.

December 3, 2024 — Federal and Utah state officials have announced a combined investment of $100 million to combat the ongoing drought and alarming shrinkage of the Great Salt Lake. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton visited the Great Salt Lake on December 2 to announce a $50 million federal contribution from the Inflation Reduction Act. The state of Utah is matching this with over $50 million, doubling the investment aimed at ensuring a resilient water supply in the basin.

“We recognize the local commitment to conservation of the Great Salt Lake and make this investment in an effort to slow the long-term decline of the water level,” Commissioner Touton said. “The impacts of drought to the area are evident, and we must work with the state and local community to conserve this important water body to stop negative impacts to the local environment and wildlife habitat, the agriculture ecosystem services, recreation, and industry.”

Combating the Shrinking Lake.

The Great Salt Lake is roughly one-third of its normal size, a concerning statistic that has prompted urgent action. The Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner and the Utah Department of Natural Resources plan to use this investment to enhance their ongoing agricultural optimization efforts. The funding will also support a program to lease water and deliver conserved water back to the lake, reducing water losses throughout the basin.

One key objective is to secure additional water for the lake, which will be facilitated through this funding. The investment will also assist in developing water-saving infrastructure, which is crucial for the lake’s and surrounding communities’ long-term health.

A Unified Effort Against Drought.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Biden-Harris administration to make Western communities more resilient to climate change and address the ongoing megadrought affecting the region. The Inflation Reduction Act includes $550 million for the Bureau of Reclamation to implement domestic water supply projects and $4 billion for water conservation and ecosystem projects in basins like the Great Salt Lake.

With this announcement, the Bureau of Reclamation has allocated over $3.2 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act for various drought mitigation projects, emphasizing the critical need to address water scarcity in the West.

Image.

Great Salt Lake via the Bureau of Reclamation’s news release.

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