The Great Salt Lake of Utah has alarmingly low water levels in the middle of drought conditions, reports the Salt Lake Tribune, and it is not the first time in recent years that officials have raised alarms.
What happens?
According to the stands, Great Salt Lake Water levels are currently approaching a “record-loage” height that was last registered in 2022.
That report quoted an article from November 2022 about the upcoming 'ecological collapse' of the Saltwater Lake. Biology professor Bonnie Baxter of the Great Salt Lake Institute of Westminster College spoke with the outlet about the circumstances on the lake.
“We no longer have any clouds of flying around our ankles. The flies don't look good. They are small. They behave funny,” Baxter said at the time.
In 2023, researchers from Brigham Young University called for “emergency measures” to prevent the ecosystem of the more inevitable collapse.
Their predictions were surprising – without intervention they estimate that the Great Salt Lake would dry up by 2028.
Statewide, Utah has drought drought and stood dry weather, increasing the current issue. On July 29, Great Salt Lake Commissioner Brian Steed Bot was about the implications of low water levels.
“In reality we are really at a scary low level,” Steed admitted.
Why are low water levels so 'scary'?
In 2022, Baxter explained a bit about how low water levels already had a negative influence on the Salt Lake Ecosystem and some of the most important native species, brine shrimps and brine flies.
“It's not like we have a thousand different food chains. There are two with these two keystone species,” she said.
Dangerous volatile salt content is one of the problems caused by rapid changes in the waters of the lake. According to the stands, the water level of large salt lake must be at least six feet higher to guarantee a balanced ecosystem.
At the moment levels are faltering in the abyss of '' negative 'circumstances, when' invasive [tall grasses] Dominate Wetlands, salt content rises, boats cannot launch from Marinas and mineral extraction companies are struggling to pump brine. “
In 2023, NPR reported that the environmental conditions and poor air quality began to influence the inhabitants who live near Lake, where higher percentages of cardiovascular diseases and asthma were observed.
What is being done about it?
A bright spot in years of reporting on the rapid evaporation of the Great Salt Lake of Utah is that civil servants and state laws remain in biling agreement on the need to act.
On Thursday, the speaker Mike Schultz indicated to Utah -house that a special session to tackle the crisis would probably take place in the fall. Schultz referred the introduction of “some extra tools in the toolbox to help the ecosystem on the southern arm.”
Conservation measures are in force in the area and Newsweek contacted Steed's Office for information about how the locals can occur to maintain the Great Salt Lake.
A representative said that cutting out outdoor enclosures remains the “some best chance of preservation”. Residents were also advised to check indoors and, where possible, to consider “water -efficient devices”.
Finally, the office indicated that the replacement of lawns would go a long way to retain the Great Salt Lake with drought -tolerant foliage.
Become a member of our free newsletter for Good news And Useful tipsAnd don't miss this cool list with simple ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
