Saving the Great Salt Lake: A Focus on Ecosystems, Endangerment, and Advocacy

The Great Salt Lake faces an existential threat. Protecting a charming shorebird may help solve the problem.

In the latest episode of 90 Miles from Needles, the Desert Protection Podcast, we attend a demonstration in late March to mark a petition to list the Wilson’s phalarope under the Endangered Species Act, which may offer a tool to force officials to release more water into the dying Great Salt Lake. In mid-episode, Chris Clarke talks with author Terry Tempest Williams about her love for the lake, and her determination to keep it alive.

Photo by Matt Howard on Unsplash

Key Takeaways:

• Declining Lake Levels: The Great Salt Lake's receding waters endanger the ecosystem's sustainability and local biodiversity.

• Endangered Species Act Petition: Advocates push for the listing of Wilson's phalarope to boost conservation efforts.

• Community and Cultural Connection: The lake is an integral part of Utah's identity, with public engagement essential in driving conversation.

The Great Salt Lake, once a vast body of water hosting a thriving ecosystem, now stands nearly desiccated, with water levels hitting historical lows in November 2022. The lake is a terminal lake, which means it only loses water through evaporation. Its high salinity, even higher than ocean waters, supports a unique ecosystem, including brine shrimp—a crucial food source for birds like the Wilson's phalarope.

"The shoreline I'm walking is 4194 feet above sea level... That's a good 6 feet below the 4200-foot level identified as the absolute minimum for the lake to survive into the future."

The Endangered Species Act and Wilson's Phalarope

Campaigner Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin Director for the Center for Biological Diversity, notes at a March 28 demonstration on the steps of the Utah State Capital that a petition to list the Wilson's phalarope as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act marks a potential turning point. "The Endangered Species act has a 99 percent success rate at preventing the extinction of the species it protects," says Donnelly. As part of the broader measures to secure the lake's future, this petition symbolizes both an immediate call to action and a strategic approach to leverage existing laws for environmental defense.

Photo by Pascal Bernardon on Unsplash

Salt Lake as Mirror

The third overarching theme identified in the episode is the profound cultural and socio-economic bond between the Great Salt Lake and the communities that surround it. Terry Tempest Williams, an author and environmental icon, conveys a deeply personal connection to the lake — a source of life, inspiration, and, now, lamentation. "Great Salt Lake is my mother, you know, Great Salt Lake is a body of water in flood and a body of water in retreat," Williams notes, tying her identity to the fate of the lake.

This emotional attachment extends beyond individual narratives, as reflected in Utah Youth Environmental Solutions representative Adelaide Scott's remarks. She stresses the integral role of inclusivity in environmental advocacy, drawing a parallel between the marginalization of the lake's wildlife and that of underrepresented communities. "I will hope, and I continue to hope, that we will continue in a trajectory towards justice, empathy, preservation, and equality towards all," underscores Scott, weaving a thread of human empathy through the fabric of conservation efforts.

The struggle of the Great Salt Lake is fluid and ongoing, with implications that ripple across ecological, legal, and social realms. As community leaders and environmental advocates band together to voice their concerns, they invoke a sense of urgency and shared responsibility that resonates beyond Utah's borders. The lake's health is intricately tied to the wellbeing of wildlife, human communities, and the broader region.

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This newsletter is a project of the nonprofit Desert Advocacy Media Network. D.A.M.N. also produces the 90 Miles from Needles desert protection podcast and Letters From the Desert, an email newsletter by desert writer Chris Clarke.

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