FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SALT LAKE CITY (July 22, 2024) – The Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner has released a list of priorities to address the urgent issue of dust pollution stemming from the Great Salt Lake. The announced priorities follow a dust forum held on May 16 where more than 50 university and agency experts convened to discuss the lake.
The forum, which focused on current research and management strategies for air, land and water impacted by dust from the Great Salt Lake, highlighted gaps in understanding and opportunities for further research. This collaborative effort culminated in a list of eight actionable priorities, each with a designated lead funding agency and a targeted fiscal year (FY) for securing or allocating funds. Many of these will build upon or provide additional funding for work that has already begun.
“The Great Salt Lake Dust Forum was both informative and insightful as we learned from one another about what research is currently being done and what research we still need to undertake when it comes to Great Salt Lake dust,” Great Salt Lake Deputy Commissioner Tim Davis said. “There are a lot of people working on the lake including studying dust so it’s vital we work together on these complex topics. The priorities that came out of the forum will help guide research and management of dust in the future.”
The priorities encompass a broad spectrum of research and management areas, including:
- Invest in an improved monitoring network for dust including both particulate matter and filter monitors (Division of Air Quality, FY26).
- Invest in additional research into surface crust dynamics, dust-associated contaminants, and dust hot spots (Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands – Tech Team, FY26).
- Develop a better understanding of the health implications of dust from the Great Salt Lake including potential at-risk populations (Division of Water Resources – Basin Integrated Plan, FY25).
- Leverage and invest in remote sensing to be able to estimate and monitor crust and hot spot development, and identify areas for and monitor the effectiveness of mitigation (Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands – Tech Team, FY26).
- Develop models to help characterize and differentiate dust from the Great Salt Lake and other sources (i.e., West Desert, Sevier Dry Lake, gravel pits) (Division of Air Quality, FY26).
- Identify and test cost-effective mitigation measures while working to secure enough water to get the lake to the healthy, target range (Division of Water Resources – Basin Integrated Plan to study mitigation measures, FY25 and Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands – Tech Team to fund pilot projects, FY26).
- Develop real-time public education tools (Commissioner’s Office and Division of Water Resources – Basin Integrated Plan, FY25).
- Utilize quarterly Great Salt Lake Dust meetings to provide feedback on studies and implementation including monitoring plans and modeling (Division of Air Quality and Commissioner’s Office, FY25).
The Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner is committed to addressing the complex challenges posed by dust pollution from the Great Salt Lake. By fostering collaboration among experts, investing in research and implementing evidence-based management strategies, we aim to safeguard public health, protect the environment and preserve the unique ecosystem of the Great Salt Lake.
Media Contact
Madison Weber
Public Information Officer | Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner
[email protected]
801-644-5852
###
About the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner
In 2023, the Utah Legislature created the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner. The commissioner is tasked with developing and maintaining a strategic plan as well as coordinating collaborative work among all agencies and interests in relation to the lake.