In last year’s legislative session, progress was made towards saving the GSL, but more needs to be done.
Legislators, use the surplus tax funds to back policies for farmers to fallow fields, to install more efficient irrigation systems, for changing the ways we farm, for rebates on water conservation measures. Besides our health, the GSL supplies over $1.9 billion to the state’s economy and creates over 7700 jobs. The lake effect adds another $1.2 billion and 20, 000 jobs for the ski industry – mainly by allowing ski resorts to stay open five to seven weeks longer. Besides the economic drivers, the lake is a stopping point and refueling station for over 10 million migratory birds and 330 species.
It is essential to save the lake, for our health, our economy and the many birds and species that depend on it. With all the recent rain and snow, it may seem all our water problems are solved, but it has had only a minor effect on our drought conditions. According to, most of Utah is still in severe drought conditions , 26% in extreme drought, but nowhere in Utah is in an exceptional drought.
So, we need to continue to conserve, but also to demand our legislators back policies with funding and do more to save our dying lake. We cannot depend on mother nature.