Government Withholds Plan To Save The Great Salt Lake

By Douglas McIntyre  •  March 3, 2025
Melissa Corless Pexels
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The Great Salt Lake reached its lowest level in history two years ago. One scientist said it would dry up in five years. Higher than average snowfall allowed it to make a very modest recovery, but not enough to provide its survival. The federal government said it would provide $50 million from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to release water into the Great Salt Lake. Under the new administration, the availability of the money has been “paused.”

The Great Salt Lake is one or two droughts from returning to the endangered lake list. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, areas around the lake suffer from drought. However, the areas adjacent to and north of it are drought-free, which gives the water level some time. 

Government Rescue Plan

Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz commented, “I think they paused pretty much everything. So it wasn’t just specific to that. I think that’s fair, right? … The new administration comes in, and pushes pause on it.” That is less than a guess. 

Those who want to rescue the Great Salt Lake may not have much time. Although brief respites have existed, the drought that has ruined so much of the Western US has not gone away. The Drought Monitor shows dry and extremely dry areas across southern California, Nevada, and Utah. Almost all of Arizona suffers from the same problem. 

Record High In 1986

The year the Great Salt Lake reached its highest level was 1986. It has dropped most years since then.

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