Scientists fear a Great Toxic Dustbowl could soon emerge from the Great Salt Lake
The disappearing Great Salt Lake makes national news again, this time from CNN.
“When lake levels hit historic lows in recent months, 800 square miles of lakebed were exposed – soil that holds centuries of natural and manmade toxins like mercury, arsenic and selenium. As that mud turns to dust and swirls to join some of the worst winter air pollution in the nation, scientists warn that the massive body of water could evaporate into a system of lifeless finger lakes within five years, on its way to becoming the Great Toxic Dustbowl,” CNN reported.
The national attention on Great Salt Lake lately has put some pressure on lawmakers to come up with solutions, and fast. This legislative session, two bills have been proposed to help fund lake restoration:
H.B. 286 aims to redirect almost $60 million from existing sales tax collections, which are currently allocated to the Bear River Development, a project detrimental to the health of the lake.
S.C.R. 6 would set an official state goal to protect Great Salt Lake by making the official policy of Utah to raise lake water levels to 4,198 feet in elevation.