Environews

Environews: Great Salt Lake dustbowl?

By Amy Brunvand

– By Amy Brunvand

A new report by researchers at Utah State University says that proposed development of the Bear River could turn the Great Salt Lake into an environmental catastrophe like the Aral Sea or Owens Lake. Consumptive uses have already decreased the lake’s volume by 48% and lower lake leeks, “will increase dust pollution and related human health impacts, and reduce industrial and environmental function of Great Salt Lake.” Worse, dust from a dry lakebed is likely to reduce mountain snowpack, resulting in bad skiing and a worsening cycle of water scarcity.

White Paper, “Impacts of Water Development on Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch Front” usu.edu/today/?ID=55565

Utah Legislature, 2016 Environmental Round Up

The 2016 General Session of the Utah Legislature ended on March 10. A few good bills passed, but, mostly, environmental causes suffered

Growing citizen opposition to Public Lands Initiative

On March 2, the Utah Wilderness Coalition staged a people’s hearing on Congressman Rob Bishop’s (R-UT-1) Public Lands Initiative (PLI), giving a voice to people who were excluded from the official process since PLI hearings were never held on the Wasatch Front where more than 90% of Utah’s population lives

Alternative to Lake Powell Pipeline

Washington County needs water, but not as much as Lake Powell Pipeline advocates claim

Collaboration is the answer to public lands issues

In March, the Wallace Stegner Center released a fourth report analyzing the transfer of public lands idea, which has this to say: “Respectful dialogue, collaborative relationships, adequate agency funding, and locally supported land exchanges can address many of the problems responsible for frustration over public land management, especially if coupled with programs to help rural communities transition to a more sustainable future

This article was originally published on April 5, 2016.