The Great Salt Lake is Dying, but These Scientists Have a Solution
Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
A worrying study published last month in Environmental Challenges claims that nearly two-thirds of the Great Salt Lake's shrinkage is attributable to human use of river water that otherwise would have replenished the lake.
Utah's Great Salt Lake is a relic of a once-vast lake that occupied the same site during the Ice Age. The lake's level has fluctuated since measurements of it began in 1847, but it's about 75 miles (120 kilometers) long by 35 miles (56 km) wide with a maximum depth of 33 feet (10 meters). The Great Salt Lake's water levels hit a record low in 2021, which was usurped the following year.
According to the recent paper, about 62% of the river water that otherwise would have refilled the lake has instead been used for anthropogenic consumption." The research team found that agricultural use cases were responsible for 71% of those human-driven depletions; furthermore, about 80% of the agricultural water is used for crops to feed just under one million cattle.
[...] The researchers proposed a goal of reducing anthropogenic river water consumption in the area by 35% to begin refilling the lake, as well as a detailed breakdown of specific reductions within livestock feed production.
We find that the most potent solutions would involve a 61% reduction in alfalfa production along with fallowing of 26-55% of grass hay production," the team wrote, resulting in reductions of agricultural revenues of US$97 million per year, or 0.04% of the state's GDP." The team added that Utah residents could be compensated for their loss of revenue. It's an easier plan to propose on paper than sell folks on as a reality, but it is a pathway towards recovery for the Great Salt Lake.
As the team added, the lake directly supports 9,000 jobs and $2.5 billion in economic productivity, primarily from mining, recreation, and fishing of brine shrimp. Exposed saline lakebeds (as the Great Salt Lake's increasingly are with its decreasing water levels) are also associated with dust that can pose health risks due to its effects on the human respiratory system.
For now, the Great Salt Lake's average levels and volume continue to decrease. But the team's research has revealed a specific pain point and suggested ways to reduce the strain on the great-but diminishing-water body.
The elephant in the room that isn't mentioned are all of the data centers in the Salt Lake region. It seems data on their water usage is considered Confidential Business Information and doesn't need to be reported, so much discussion on this gets presented as a farmer-vs-resident issue.
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