Great Salt Lake water is declining rapidly; experts explain why
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Jan 30, 2025, 04.53 PM IST
The Great Salt Lake, for over a century an iconic and dynamic natural wonder, has sadly been afflicted lately by seriously decreased water level statistics. Increasingly disturbing over these years, the trend has thus given cause to increasing concern for the ecological soundness of the lake, its economic value, and the consequential implications on human health. It is more significant than one would have thought that the recession of the lake has played a key role in tourism, recreation, and wildlife habitat.
Experts have only recently begun to dig deeper into the complex factors behind this decline, from changing weather patterns and water management practices to the effects of climate change. Understanding these causes is important for developing effective strategies to preserve the lake for future generations.
Great Salt Lake low water-levels spark concerns and research
Recently Great Salt Lake in 2022, showed unprecedented low water levels that alarmed everyone throughout the state of Utah. This dramatic decline has raised concerns not only about the economy but also about the lake's ecological impact and public health risks. The scenario has triggered intense debate about the lake's management and causes behind its degradation.
As per the new study, this is the first peer-reviewed attempt to examine the causes of the record-low water volume of the lake. The new research, undertaken by Siiri Bigalke, a PSU PhD candidate, hopes to help paint a clearer picture of what the lake's issues are and can be used for better future management decisions.
The Great Salt Lake is of great economic and ecological value. The lake, in monetary terms, produces revenues amounting to $1.9 billion per year. The lake provides a boost to tourism and recreation activities, mainly the skiing resorts in the Wasatch Range. Further, for millions of migratory birds, this lake forms an essential feeding ground. The lake also plays its role in influencing weather conditions critical for snow levels and hence influences winter tourism. Thus, a compromised lake could have profound effects on the economy of Utah, including being a host state for the Winter Olympics in 2034.
Bigalke’s research identifies key factors behind Great Salt Lake’s water decline
Bigalke and her team presented their work and designed a model for the interpretation of fluctuation in the lake's water volume. According to the analysis conducted, they derived the following three major factors which resulted in fluctuation in water levels in the lake: streamflow from tributaries, precipitation, and evaporation. Indeed, reduced streamflows made up around two-thirds of this decline, but increased evaporation, also driven by rising temperatures, was a factor in bringing the lake's water levels down to record low.
The research points out how climate change, especially increasing temperatures, is accelerating the rate of evaporation of water from the lake. Higher temperatures also accelerate the rate of evaporation, thereby aggravating the problems caused by the low streamflows. According to the researchers, if there was no warming trend, the lake would not have reached a historic low in 2022, which means climate change must be accounted for in the solution of this water scarcity of the lake.
Great Salt Lake recession risks health and long-term recovery
Improving water conservation and boosting streamflows could prove to be only short-term recoveries. Although the short term appears encouraging, the long term is quite dismal because evaporation would outpace gains in the long run due to climate change. This would call for more holistic management strategies for the lake, which are both short term and long term in their outlook.
In addition to economic and ecological impacts, a recession in the Great Salt Lake has some associated health impacts: the 1.2 million residents of the Salt Lake City metro area risk health hazards since the lake beds expose large stretches of dry shore when the Great Salt Lake begins to recede, resulting in frequent dust storms. These dust events could deteriorate air quality and introduce toxic particles into the atmosphere, worsening health outcomes for local communities. This further emphasizes the urgency of acting on the decline of the lake from a perspective of environmental protection and public health.
Study calls for research on water diversion impacts on Great Salt Lake sustainability
The team recommended further studies conducted by PSU, which will aim to quantify water diversion, evaporation, and changes in precipitation effects on Great Salt Lake levels. Such a study is significant in developing transparent policy strategies meant to protect this lake and ultimately reverse its ever-decreasing water levels.The Portland State University study emphasises proactive policies toward securing the lake's future. The study underlines the need for further measures for reducing water diversion, then managing climate effects and improving the handling of water so that no more environmental deterioration is noticed.
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Experts have only recently begun to dig deeper into the complex factors behind this decline, from changing weather patterns and water management practices to the effects of climate change. Understanding these causes is important for developing effective strategies to preserve the lake for future generations.
Great Salt Lake low water-levels spark concerns and research
Recently Great Salt Lake in 2022, showed unprecedented low water levels that alarmed everyone throughout the state of Utah. This dramatic decline has raised concerns not only about the economy but also about the lake's ecological impact and public health risks. The scenario has triggered intense debate about the lake's management and causes behind its degradation.
As per the new study, this is the first peer-reviewed attempt to examine the causes of the record-low water volume of the lake. The new research, undertaken by Siiri Bigalke, a PSU PhD candidate, hopes to help paint a clearer picture of what the lake's issues are and can be used for better future management decisions.
Great Salt Lake’s economic and ecological Value
The Great Salt Lake is of great economic and ecological value. The lake, in monetary terms, produces revenues amounting to $1.9 billion per year. The lake provides a boost to tourism and recreation activities, mainly the skiing resorts in the Wasatch Range. Further, for millions of migratory birds, this lake forms an essential feeding ground. The lake also plays its role in influencing weather conditions critical for snow levels and hence influences winter tourism. Thus, a compromised lake could have profound effects on the economy of Utah, including being a host state for the Winter Olympics in 2034.
Bigalke’s research identifies key factors behind Great Salt Lake’s water decline
Bigalke and her team presented their work and designed a model for the interpretation of fluctuation in the lake's water volume. According to the analysis conducted, they derived the following three major factors which resulted in fluctuation in water levels in the lake: streamflow from tributaries, precipitation, and evaporation. Indeed, reduced streamflows made up around two-thirds of this decline, but increased evaporation, also driven by rising temperatures, was a factor in bringing the lake's water levels down to record low.
The research points out how climate change, especially increasing temperatures, is accelerating the rate of evaporation of water from the lake. Higher temperatures also accelerate the rate of evaporation, thereby aggravating the problems caused by the low streamflows. According to the researchers, if there was no warming trend, the lake would not have reached a historic low in 2022, which means climate change must be accounted for in the solution of this water scarcity of the lake.
Great Salt Lake recession risks health and long-term recovery
Improving water conservation and boosting streamflows could prove to be only short-term recoveries. Although the short term appears encouraging, the long term is quite dismal because evaporation would outpace gains in the long run due to climate change. This would call for more holistic management strategies for the lake, which are both short term and long term in their outlook.
In addition to economic and ecological impacts, a recession in the Great Salt Lake has some associated health impacts: the 1.2 million residents of the Salt Lake City metro area risk health hazards since the lake beds expose large stretches of dry shore when the Great Salt Lake begins to recede, resulting in frequent dust storms. These dust events could deteriorate air quality and introduce toxic particles into the atmosphere, worsening health outcomes for local communities. This further emphasizes the urgency of acting on the decline of the lake from a perspective of environmental protection and public health.
Study calls for research on water diversion impacts on Great Salt Lake sustainability
The team recommended further studies conducted by PSU, which will aim to quantify water diversion, evaporation, and changes in precipitation effects on Great Salt Lake levels. Such a study is significant in developing transparent policy strategies meant to protect this lake and ultimately reverse its ever-decreasing water levels.The Portland State University study emphasises proactive policies toward securing the lake's future. The study underlines the need for further measures for reducing water diversion, then managing climate effects and improving the handling of water so that no more environmental deterioration is noticed.
Also Read | Is 2024 PT5 a lost piece of the Moon or an asteroid? Unravel the mystery behind Earth’s mini-moon