Bill to set target water level for the Great Salt Lake dries up
Feb 2, 2023, 8:30 AM
Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake, left, and Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake, speak at a press conference to unveil legislation designed to help save the Great Salt Lake at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
(Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that would set a government target for the level Great Salt Lake did not make it out of committee.
Many people joined the committee to speak about the need to get more water flowing in.
The sponsor, Sen. Nate Blouin, D- Salt Lake City, wanted the legislature to commit to promise to get the elevation level of the lake to a certain target; 4198 feet.
“I don’t view this as an endpoint. It’s really the first indicator that all of the action we’ve taken recently is starting to work,” said Blouin.
But committee members weren’t in favor. One argued that setting a line in the sand wasn’t taking into account a holistic approach to the lake’s needs.
Many committee members spoke about the conservation and ecological needs of the lake.
There are several bills regarding the Great Salt Lake as drought has pushed water levels to historic lows.
Related reading:
- Gov. Cox issues another emergency drought order for Utah
- How a change in Utah water law will help Great Salt Lake
- Great Salt Lake dust could be toxic, bad for snow season
