Legislators respond to the 5-year timeline for GSL
A huge thank you to all who showed up at the Capital last Saturday for the rally to save Great Salt Lake. The turn out and passion exhibited was inspiring. The rally came only a little after a week researchers released a report that gave the lake a 5-year timeline if things continue as usual.
A recent Salt Lake Tribune article covered responses from lawmakers on the report. Most all of them express that they understand the urgency of the situation we’re in. Words and research funding are not going to cut it anymore, though. The article included quotes from legislators, such as this one from House Speaker Brad Wilson, “Protecting the lake will be a marathon, not a sprint and we take the threat very seriously and understand the implications.” We think it needs to be both. Doug Owens, D-Millcreek expressed to the Tribune that he doubts “lawmakers will take the kind of heavy-handed action needed to deliver 2.5 million acre-feet annually to the lake as the emergency briefing proposes.” The public absolutely needs to continue to pressure lawmakers to produce legislation that reflects the science and urgency behind the issue. Not listening to scientists got us into this mess.
A twitter thread from the Utah Department of Natural Resources refuting the report also makes us concerned that they aren’t really grasping the severity of the situation.
There have been very positive recent steps made by the local government, such as denying the U.S Magnesium request to extend canals and extract water from the lake for their operations. The legislature has notoriously supported industry interests over the well being of residents, and the denial of the application was an encouraging display of putting your money where your mouth is.
Please stay diligent this legislative session about what bills are being proposed to save Great Salt Lake. UPHE will keep you updated when there are opportunities to comment on good and bad proposals.
If you were inspired by the rally, consider joining Utah’s youth at their weekly Fridays for the Future in front of the Utah State Capitol. Fridays for the Future is a global movement where students protest every Friday.
UPHE’s Dr. Brian Moench was quoted in a City Weekly article on Utah’s Fridays for the Future, “The Legislature is dominated by people from rural areas who really don’t care about urban air pollution They have a conservative ideological aspect and a baseline skepticism of various things that scientists have long established.”
Learn more about Fridays for the Future.
See Fox13’s coverage of the rally here.
The Globe’s coverage of the rally.
ABC4’s coverage here.