In an effort to conserve the Great Salt Lake, Utah’s Gov. Spencer Cox issued a proclamation that suspends new use applications. But with supply already over appropriated, the action might be moot because in times of shortage, junior right holders often cannot divert.
The Great Salt Lake is shrinking, with about two-thirds of it gone. The loss of water and dry lake bed, which is a source of toxic dust, and has been characterized as “an environmental nuclear bomb” that threatens human life and wildlife.
Utah faces a dry summer with low precipitation and high heat, but reservoirs are 82% higher than average. Conservation efforts continue.
University of Utah’s Peak Water Sustainability Engine aims to lead in water research, uniting disciplines to address global challenges.
Utah State University’s Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air issued its report to lawmakers, finding that over half of Utahans surveyed were concerned about water issues.
Amid heat waves, Utah’s reservoirs have been bolstered by record snowpack. Effective water management and conservation are key to ensuring future sustainability.
