As Great Salt Lake water level remains below 4,198 feet, dust monitoring will increase

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Great Salt Lake (GSL) remains below 4198 feet, considered the minimum healthy level for the GSL as confirmed by the GSL Commissioner’s Office. Nevertheless, the Utah legislature in its most recent session voted down most bills that would have encouraged water conservation including SB0305, HB0328, SB 92 , HB0318, HB0330, and HB0536.

Dust monitoring will increase throughout the state

Even though Governor Spencer Cox requested $651,000 a year for staff and dust monitors during the last legislative session, only $150,000 a year was funded. On March 20 Tim Davis, the executive director of the state’s Department of Environmental Quality, said he will use the $150,000 funded by lawmakers to pay for a staff member, who will address dust concerns around the state. He announced that the GSL Commissioner’s Office will provide funding for a yet-to-be determined number of additional monitors.

Compared to drying lakes in California, the GSL is lacking in adequate dust monitoring with currently 6 monitors in the greater vicinity of the lake. Drying lakes in California have 9 to 14 monitors despite much smaller populations than those near the GSL.

Additional partially funded projects receive $6 million dollars

Bear River Basin Cloud Seeding Program received 2/3 of its requested amount. The Great Salt Lake Long-Term Water Program meant to lease water to raise the lake to 4195 feet received $1 million of $16 million requested. Sovereign Lands Wetland Enhancement and Infrastructure Analysis to enhance GSL wetlands and/or suppress dust on the dry lakebed received $1 million of the $6 million requested.

What the Utah legislature funded in full

The legislature allocated $35.99 million plus $900,000 a year to five projects. $30 million of these allocations are currently frozen due to one of President Trump’s executive orders.

The projects are the Deer Creek Intake Project, Antelope Island Theater & Visitor Center Operations,  the Great Salt Lake Basin Water Rights Network, Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape, and a Great Salt Lake Commissioner Federal Funds Adjustment.