Thank you for joining us at the GSL rally
We were overwhelmed by the passionate show of support for the lake at last Saturday’s rally at the Capitol. UPHE had a table at the rally to spread information on how vital Great Salt Lake is to protecting health, what we’re doing to support protections for the lake, and how you can get involved.
UPHE livestreamed the rally, so if you weren’t able to make it Saturday, don’t miss out on what the incredible speakers had to say.
A study reported on by Fox on the same day of the rally confirmed what most Utahns already realized: Great Salt Lake is struggling due to a combination of reduced streamflow and increased evaporation. This is partly due to climate change conditions, and partly due to upstream diversions from the lake. Climate change has made it dangerous to divert the same amount of water that we used to.
The Utah legislature touts their efforts to address the problem, but UPHE’s Dr. Brian Moench exposed why these measures won’t be enough in his op-ed “Utah is sabotaging efforts to save Great Salt Lake.” The state’s much-touted Agricultural Water Optimization Program has failed to track whether any water actually reaches the lake, while legislators actively promote projects like the Bear River Development, which would divert its largest tributary. The Utah Inland Port Authority is paving over critical wetlands, and the state continues to permit environmentally destructive endeavors, like gravel pits in Parley’s Canyon. Meanwhile, powerful legislators prioritize personal and industrial interests, silencing experts and undermining genuine conservation efforts.
