Great Salt Lake
The lake is vital to the environment, ecology and economy, not just in Utah but also the western U.S.
Today’s Great Salt Lake is a shallow, salty remnant of ancient Lake Bonneville that formed about 11,000 years ago. Three rivers flow into the lake – the Bear River, Weber River and Jordan River – but no water flows out of it, making it a “terminal” lake. Because it is shallow and salty, it loses about 2 million acre-feet of water through evaporation each year. Evaporation rates are highest during the hot summer months and lowest during the winter.
Great Salt Lake supports a unique environment, ecology and economy. Visitors recreate on and around it, scientists study its environment and various wildlife depend on it.
Protecting and preserving Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake is the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere and the eighth largest in the world – boasting a rich web of relationships between people, land, water, food and survival. The lake contributes significantly to Utah’s economy, provides over 7,000 jobs, supports the highest concentration of Utah’s valuable wetlands, and provides a stopover for millions of birds to rest and refuel during migration each year. Lake effect snow also contributes 5-10% to Utah’s snowpack.
Historic Low Levels
Great Salt Lake hit a new historic low in November 2022, only covering about 800 square miles. At a historic average elevation of 4,200 feet, the lake covered approximately 1,700 miles and was approximately 75 miles long by 35 miles wide. At its record high in 1986 (4,211.65 feet), the lake covered 3,300 square miles! (This figure includes areas that were inundated when the pumps were operational and the west desert flooded.) Typically, the lake level fluctuates one to two feet annually, peaking during spring runoff and dropping to a seasonal low in October or November.
The record-low prompted significant legislation and concern for the lake. Two great snowpack years provided much-needed relief to the lake, which rose about 6.5 feet between November 2022 – May 2024. However, action is still needed to preserve the lake.
Drought, climate change and continued demand are threatening the lake
A drying Great Salt Lake has local and regional consequences and could result in increased dust, worse air quality, reduced snow, reduced lake access, habitat loss and negative economic consequences to the state. By protecting the lake, we help our economy, environment, wildlife and future.
This website centralizes the organizations, tools and work that contribute to the lake’s management. We are working together to preserve and protect this critical resource. If there is a resource you think belongs on this site, email [email protected].