If Utah doesn’t take immediate action to conserve water, the Great Salt Lake as we know it will disappear in just five years, according to American scientists.
Now, each year, enough water to cover more than 2.5 million acres of land (more than 10,000 square kilometers) at a depth of 1 inch would need to return to the lake to reverse the decline.
By comparison, one acre-foot contains approximately 326,000 gallons (over 1.2 million liters) of water.
Currently, only about 0.1 million acre-feet of water is returned to Utah’s famous lakes annually, which is far from enough.
Since 2020, the lake has lost more than 1 million acre feet per year.
A study led by scientists at Brigham Young University (BYU) concludes that water consumption in the region needs to be reduced by at least a third, and possibly by half.
Researchers, led by BYU ecologist Benjamin Abbott, wrote in a comprehensive report on the subject that “despite encouraging growth in legislation and public awareness, most Utahans are skeptical of the crisis.” unaware of the urgency,” he wrote.
“There is evidence from around the world that the loss of salt lakes will cause long-term cycles of environmental, health and economic suffering. Without concerted relief, air and water pollution will spread. It is expected that many endangered species will be registered, and that agriculture, industry and overall quality of life will decline.”
The report calls on the governor of Salt Lake City to begin immediate emergency action across the basin of the city’s namesake lake.
The Great Salt Lake is not only an important habitat for flora and fauna, but also plays a role in regulating the region’s climate by protecting air quality, removing water pollution, and providing snowfall to nearby mountains.
However, recent research indicates that this ecosystem is at a dangerous tipping point. As millions of liters of water are drained from the lake each year, the salinity is starting to rise. The salinity is so high that animals and plants are struggling to survive.
Photosynthetic micro-organisms have died out in large numbers, turning the waters pink in some areas, such as the northern arm of the lake.
“The northern arm of the lake warns of what might happen in the future if the flow is not restored. It was cut off by a railroad line in 1959 and the northern arm has little runoff,” it is reported.
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