Great Salt Lake rally spotlights conservation and health concerns

Hundreds gathered at the Utah State Capitol for the 5th annual Rally to Save Our Great Salt Lake as officials warn the lake dropped to its third-lowest level and public health experts cite risks from toxic dust and worsening air quality. State leaders and advocates note a pending $30 million acquisition of U.S. Magnesium to route more water to the lake as part of broader restoration efforts.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Utah State Capitol on Jan. 31 for the 5th annual Rally to Save Our Great Salt Lake. Organizers used the event to celebrate conservation work and to question whether current efforts will meet Gov. Spencer Cox's pledge to refill the lake by 2034. Last year the lake fell to its third-lowest recorded level. Public health and natural-resources officials have warned that the shrinking lake poses risks to air quality and human health. Key details: - The rally brought together a mix of community members, youth groups and conservation organizations to raise awareness about the lake's decline. - Officials and advocates reported that the lake reached its third-lowest level last year and called 2026 a "watershed year" for restoration efforts. - Gov. Spencer Cox has pledged to restore water to the lake by 2034 in advance of the state's Olympic plans. - Lawmakers are pursuing a pending $30 million acquisition of U.S. Magnesium; supporters say that purchase would free about 40,000–60,000 acre-feet of water per year for the lake. - Public health groups and a U.S. Geological Survey report warn that exposed lakebed can release dust containing heavy metals and pollutants, which could worsen air quality and present long-term health concerns. Summary: Public health experts and local officials say the Great Salt Lake's low levels threaten air quality, public health and ecosystem functions, and those concerns were central at the rally. State leaders and conservation groups point to conservation measures and the pending U.S. Magnesium acquisition as pieces of a restoration plan, while broader restoration goals and timelines remain under discussion.