Recreation at Great Salt Lake – is it safe?
When we talk about losing Great Salt Lake, we’re often talking about the health consequences for residents. What we don’t always talk about, though, is what a detrimental loss it will be for the recreation features the lake provides residents and visitors alike. Great Salt Lake is a mecca for birders. Antelope Island hiking trails provide incredible 360° views of the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River. The largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere also provides recreation for kayakers, paddleboarders, boaters and sailors. Lakeside roads provide scenic biking and jogging routes, and the lake itself contributes to Utah’s prideful “greatest snow on Earth.”
Outside asked Dr. Moench to weigh in with advice for visitors to the lake, “Bring an N95 mask in case there is a dust storm or other pollution event,” he says. Expectant mothers may also want to reconsider taking a trip to the area if air pollution levels are high or dust storms are likely.
He also urges visitors to stay on marked paths rather than walking out towards the lake over the exposed lakebed. “That protective crust can help reduce some of that dust storm effect, but when people recreate on the surface of that crust, it can damage it”
The dire state of the lake prompted UPHE to file a lawsuit against the state, aiming to force action on the root causes of the lake’s water shortage. The issue stems from the excessive upstream diversion of water for agriculture, particularly alfalfa, much of which is exported overseas rather than used locally. While the area remains safe for outdoor activities with precautions, the ongoing shrinkage of Great Salt Lake poses a growing threat to both the environment and public health in Utah.
Our lawsuit pulls into question Utah’s compliance with the Public Trust Doctrine. The state holds the Great Salt Lake in trust for the public. As trustee, the state has a fiduciary obligation to protect the lake. That includes modifying upstream diversions when necessary to ensure that enough flows reach the lake to sustain its minimum viable elevation of 4,198 feet. Given that obligation, the state must reconsider existing diversions and modify those that are impairing the trust. Link to an op-ed on how the state’s efforts so far haven’t gone far enough.