Great Salt Lake gets $50M investment from federal government

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Great Salt Lake has received a $50 million investment from the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act aimed at combating water loss.
The Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner said the funds specifically will be used to implement a water delivery program, allowing the state to lease water and then deliver conserved water directly to the lake.
“This program helps deliver conserved water to the lake and deplete less water within the Great Salt Lake Basin,” said Commissioner Brian Steed. “We look forward to working closely with the Utah Department of Natural Resources to maximize these funds.”
The funding will also reportedly be used for ecosystem restoration projects and improving wildlife habitats. The $50 million investment will be used in conjunction with an additional $50 million in commitments from the State of Utah to protect the Great Salt Lake.
“We recognize the local commitment to conservation of the Great Salt Lake and make this investment in an effort to slow the long-term decline of the water level,” Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said. “The impacts of drought to the area are evident and we must work with the state and local community to conserve this important water body to stop negative impacts to the local environment and wildlife habitat, the agriculture ecosystem services, recreation, and industry.”
The Great Salt Lake hit a record low in November 2022 when it dropped to 4,188.5 feet, as measured at the South Arm Causeway. The lake’s elevation had dropped from the previous record low of 4,190.2 feet set in October 2021.
Thanks to a particularly generous 2022-23 winter season in terms of snowfall, the Great Salt Lake saw a great improvement, rising over six feet from its 2022 record low. However, the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner said the lake has since returned to the levels set in 2021.
“We recognize restoring the lake to a healthy range will take years, and we very much appreciate the funding and ongoing support from the Bureau of Reclamation to help us meet that goal,” said Steed. “It’s going to take everyone participating in conserving, dedicating and delivering water to the lake every year.”
In an effort to combat the Great Salt Lake’s dwindling size, the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner implemented the “Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan.” The plan focuses on four areas including increasing flows to the Great Salt Lake, investing in infrastructure to help decrease water depletion and deliver conserved water to the lake, restoring wetlands, and removing invasive species from around the lake.