One of the defining physical features of Utah, the Great Salt Lake, is shrinking, according to a white paper by researchers at Utah State University. Much like many of the world's other salt lakes that have dried up and caused massive environmental damage, Utah's renowned marine ecosystem, teeming with aquatic life and providing an economic value of $1.32 billion per year, may soon meet its demise.
The paper outlines numerous reasons for the decrease in size, including the dramatic effects of water uses as well as climatic fluctuations on the terminal lake's levels that have been occurring since 19th century pioneer settlement.
"There's no doubt about it, Great Salt Lake is shrinking," Wayne Wurtsbaugh, lead author on the paper, said in a press release. "Though we've witnessed droughts and floods in recent decades, impacts of water diversions have decreased the lake's level by 11 feet."
Given the findings, the team warns that Utah residents should be careful when deciding to develop the lake's water supply due to the dangers of accelerating this shrinkage.
"As a state, we've made positive strides in water conservation, but these equate to only a 2 percent overall reduction of water use," said Wurtsbaugh, claiming that current measures are not enough to combat the lowering lake levels and problems exacerbating the issue.
"Loss of water in the lake threatens its unique ecology, along with the wildlife and industries that depend on the lake's ecosystem services," he concluded. "Further, lowering lake levels increase dust pollution, which worsens the health effects of the Salt Lake City area's already serious air pollution problems."
The findings were released in a white paper that can be viewed HERE.
