SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 2, 2024) – The Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner and the Department of Natural Resources have received $50 million from the Bureau of Reclamation through the Inflation Reduction Act to implement a water delivery program designed to lease water and then deliver conserved water to the lake.
“This program helps deliver conserved water to the lake and deplete less water within the Great Salt Lake Basin,” said Brian Steed, Great Salt Lake Commissioner. “We look forward to working closely with the Utah Department of Natural Resources to maximize these funds.”
Reclamation funding will also be used for ecosystem restoration projects and improving habitat for the 10-12 million birds that rely upon the Great Salt Lake. The federal funds will complement the significant financial commitments the state of Utah has made in recent years to protect the Great Salt Lake.
“We recognize the local commitment to conservation of the Great Salt Lake and make this investment in an effort to slow the long-term decline of the water level,” Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said. “The impacts of drought to the area are evident and we must work with the state and local community to conserve this important water body to stop negative impacts to the local environment and wildlife habitat, the agriculture ecosystem services, recreation, and industry.”
This funding helps implement the Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan, focusing on four areas: 1) increasing flows to the Great Salt Lake; 2) investing in infrastructure to help water users decrease water depletion and facilitate the delivery of conserved water to the lake; 3) restoring wetlands around the lake; and 4) removing non-native, invasive species from around the lake and its tributaries.
“We appreciate Reclamation’s generous contribution and their willingness to work together to protect this critical resource,” Joel Ferry, executive director of the Department of Natural Resources, said. “It is a significant step forward in our efforts to enhance the health of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.”
The state continues to collaborate with stakeholders across the basin on preserving and protecting the lake and its surrounding ecosystem.
“We recognize restoring the lake to a healthy range will take years, and we very much appreciate the funding and ongoing support from the Bureau of Reclamation to help us meet that goal,” Steed said. “It’s going to take everyone participating in conserving, dedicating and delivering water to the lake every year.”
Utah’s water supply has significantly improved after two consecutive years of above-normal snowfall and conservation efforts across the state. The Great Salt Lake rose 6.5 feet from its record low in 2022. The lake has since returned to 2021 levels, and there is still much work to be done for the long-term health of the lake, as laid out in the Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan.
Media Contact:
Kim Wells
Communications Director | Utah Department of Natural Resources
[email protected]
801-803-0336
Madison Weber
Public Information Officer | Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner
[email protected]
801-644-5852
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About the Utah Department of Natural Resources
The Utah Department of Natural Resources is one of the state’s largest agencies and helps ensure the quality of life of Utah residents by managing and protecting the state’s natural resources.
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.