Here’s what it takes to restore Great Salt Lake back to healthy levels
May 6, 2025, 10:59 AM | Updated: 12:25 pm
The Great Salt Lake is pictured by the north end of Stansbury Island in Tooele County on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Restoring Great Salt Lake to healthy levels could take decades. And even then, it’ll require everyone in the region, from homeowners to farmers, to use less water.
Specifically, it would take a 50% cut in water use across the region, according to Great Salt Lake Commissioner Brian Steed.
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However, Steed said a 50% cut just isn’t realistic. Instead, Utah is aiming for gradual reductions over 30 years, focusing on smarter farming and conservation.
“(If) you have a lawn, you would water it half of what you water it right now. That means you have a lot of lawn die, and a lot of people will be upset about that. I guarantee it. Similarly, on the ag front, you’d have a lot of farmers go out of business.”
Steed said they’re already working with farmers and ranchers on agricultural water optimization, using smarter technology to water more efficiently and in economically sensible ways.
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Steed said even modest conservation, if done collectively, can move the needle.
“If we were just to reduce 10% of the water we use over that time frame, we would absolutely refill the lake to safer levels. And I think that that’s something that we’ll be pushing to do from a policy standpoint.”
Steed said he hopes Utahns understand that this isn’t just about the lake; it’s about our shared future.
“I just think it’s important that people realize that our futures are connected to Great Salt Lake. And our choices make a difference in how the lake either succeeds or doesn’t succeed.”
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