Hundreds of Utahns gathered at the State Capitol for the fifth annual “Rally to Save Our Great Salt Lake” protest on Feb. 1. The protest was held in response to the state’s efforts to meet the governor’s goal to fill the shrinking lake before the 2034 Winter Olympics. Protesters believe the state has not done enough.
“This is our fifth year, and the rally has become an opportunity to show our lawmakers and decision-makers that we the people care about Great Salt Lake,” said co-founder and board member of Save Our Great Salt Lake, Chandler Rosenberg. She acknowledged that progress is being made but there is still a lot of work to be done. Rosenberg said conservation efforts need to increase.
Public health officials have warned the public of the dangers the shrinking lake poses to Utahn’s health. Last year, the lake dropped to its third-lowest level on record. The dry lakebed contains toxic arsenic dust, which is harmful to the lungs and worsens air quality.
“It’s a human rights issue, it’s a health issue … we need water in the lake to prevent toxic dust from blowing into the valley and worsening our airshed,” Rosenberg said. “The shrinking Great Salt Lake poses a huge threat to our health, to our economy, to the precious ecosystem out there, and we felt like it was really important to spread the word.”
The state recently won a bid for $30 million to acquire U.S. Magnesium assets, a bankrupt mineral extraction plant near the lake that has been siting idol. Lawmakers are planning on using the plant to funnel more water into the lake.
Author: Andrew Streeter
Photo courtesy of Spenser Heaps, Utah News Dispatch
Editor: Hannah Clove
news@suunews.net
