“This little bird’s fate is intimately tied to the future of the lake. And so is ours.”
Saltair on the south shore of the Great Salt Lake is pictured below storm clouds on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023.with our drying and dying Great Salt Lake. But you might be less familiar with one of the most immediate consequences if the ecological collapse of Great Salt Lake continues — the loss of migratory bird species.
Wilson’s phalaropes need similar protections. Restoring the Great Salt Lake to a consistently ecologically healthy level will ensure the survival of these shorebirds, and it will safeguard human health as well. Ensuring there is enough water for shorebirds will also mean the lakebed is safely covered, preventing airborne toxic dust that’s harmful to people as well as birds.
Two consecutive years of significant precipitation have granted us a short reprieve. But science shows that the grim progression toward a dewatered or severely degraded lake will continue without an enforceable plan to get more water to Great Salt Lake in the coming dry years.to acknowledge the magnitude of the problem, but new commitments to allow more water to flow into the lake fall far short of what is needed to prevent its collapse and protect people and Wilson’s phalaropes.
The looming collapse of Great Salt Lake has been an important catalyst for renewed discussion about Utahn’s water uses.we need at least a million more acre-feet of water per year for the lake to be at sustainable levels, and we’re nowhere close to that. Wilson’s phalarope will only survive with huge infusions of water to refill Great Salt Lake.
This little bird’s fate is intimately tied to the future of the lake. And so is ours. If we can save Wilson’s phalarope, we will be saving Great Salt Lake and saving ourselves. This Endangered Species Act petition is an important step to get us there.The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this.
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