The Great Salt Lake is our collective responsibility

This story appears in the January 2026 issue of Utah Business. Subscribe.

The Great Salt Lake is far more than a defining physical characteristic of Utah. It provides significant economic, ecological and cultural benefits, including mineral extraction, recreation, the brine shrimp industry and a critical habitat for millions of wildlife. The health of the lake influences our weather patterns and snowpack, which in turn impacts the tourism economy that is vital to our state.

Since 2000, we have observed a steady decline in lake elevation, reaching an all-time low in 2022. While we have been fortunate to enjoy two strong snow years in the winters since then, managing the lake in a shifting climate is a multi-decade undertaking. Proactive investment and action today are necessary to prevent a $30 billion impact on the state’s economy, as well as disruptions to international ecosystems and supply chains that rely on the lake.

For Utah residents and businesses, the consequences of the shrinking of the Great Salt Lake extend well beyond economics. An exposed lakebed can generate toxic dust storms containing heavy metals and other pollutants, compromising air quality across the Wasatch Front. A degraded Great Salt Lake threatens Utah’s reputation as a desirable place to live and do business, diminishing property values and undermining our ability to attract and retain the workforce and investment necessary for continued economic growth.

These issues remain a top priority for state leaders. In September, Governor Cox introduced the Great Salt Lake 2034 Charter, establishing a framework for awareness and action toward improving the health and levels of the lake. The Charter contains five commitments:

1. Collective responsibility: Restoring the lake requires collaboration from all sectors of Utah society. Individuals, businesses, farmers, researchers, elected officials and conservationists must work together toward shared prosperity.
2. Stewardship commitment: Utahns acknowledge their role as stewards of the lake and commit to protecting, conserving, innovating and taking action to preserve this vital resource.
3. Holistic balance: The Charter recognizes the interconnected nature of economy, ecology and culture, emphasizing data-informed solutions that balance competing priorities rather than solving one problem while creating others.
4. Long-term action: Lake restoration requires a sustained, multi-decade commitment involving investment, behavioral changes, reprioritization and innovative approaches to support the lake’s health.
5. 2034 Olympic vision: The Charter sets an urgent goal to restore the lake to improved health by the 2034 Winter Olympics, positioning Utah’s success as an international model for saline lake restoration and demonstrating Utah’s pioneer spirit to the world.

The importance of the Great Salt Lake to our future cannot be overstated. As business leaders and stewards of Utah’s prosperity, we have both the responsibility and the capacity to drive meaningful change. I encourage you to sign the Charter as an indication of your commitment to be part of the collective solution. Together, we can preserve this irreplaceable resource and ensure Utah’s continued prosperity for generations to come.