Federal government will direct millions of dollars to Great Salt Lake restoration
Dec 2, 2024, 6:00 PM | Updated: Dec 21, 2024, 3:53 pm
Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox speaks as he joins with Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton, Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Joel Ferry, Great Salt Lake Commissioner Brian Steed and other state leaders to hold a press conference in the gold room at the Capitol in Salt Lake City to announce an investment from the Inflation Reduction Act to benefit the Great Salt Lake on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The federal government is directing $50 million to Utah’s efforts to preserve the Great Salt Lake, and the state said it’s is matching the investment.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said the money will come from funds included in the Inflation Reduction Act. The state plans to match it for a total of $100 million. At a press conference on Monday, Dec. 2, Director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources Joel Ferry said it’s about getting water to the Great Salt Lake and rebuilding infrastructure and ecosystems.
“A lot of this funding is going towards ecosystem restoration, in addition to acquisition of water. What is the one thing the Great Salt Lake needs? More water. It’s pretty simple, but hard to get.”
Ferry added that their efforts will make an immediate impact to the community around the Great Salt Lake.
“It would blow your mind to know the shape a lot of this infrastructure is in. Some of it’s going to be restoration, so deliveries. You have things like the Jordan River or the Bear River that are in really tough shape,” he said.
Related: Study links inversion to damaging inflammation
Gov. Spencer Cox said in Monday’s press conference that in the past three years, Utah lawmakers have been trying to make the case that the Great Salt Lake isn’t just a Utah problem.
“We know that the impacts of the lake drying up will be far greater than just the greater salt lake area,” he said. “It is a regional problem, and it is a United State problem. This is an issue affecting drought resiliency, it is affecting all of the country, especially the western United States.”
He says the lake is extremely important to our geography, economy and population.
“The lake also contributes … to our incredible ski industry here in the state. We know that somewhere between 5 and 10%, depending on the year, of our famous snow at our famous resorts comes as a direct result of the lake and lake effect snow.”
Related: Utah Legislature welcomes first Vietnamese American representative
Brian Steed Great Salt Lake Commissioner Brian Steed said at the same press conference that this investment was desperately needed.
“One thing is clear. We can only be successful in the Great Salt Lake if we all work together,” he said. “Now that we have a strong federal partner, I really am optimistic that we’re able to put vital things into effect that will help to save the Great Salt Lake into the future. While we’re no longer in crisis, we’re a long ways from where we want to be. But this is the type of contribution that will really help get us to where we need to be.”
