The scary science behind the disappearing Great Salt Lake

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River and it is in trouble. Really big trouble. This is not like the environmental disaster stories where if we don’t do something soon, things will change in 50 years. This one is much worse. The Great Salt Lake is losing so much water that it will be completely gone within five years. The loss of this lake would have deadly consequences to both humans and ecosystems near it.

History of the Lake

The Great Salt Lake was formed during the last Ice Age. It is 75 miles long and 35 miles wide and exists in an area with very little rainfall. The lake is fed by rivers from rain and melting snow from the nearby mountains. As the streams and rivers flow, they dissolve little bits of salt from the rocks. Once the water gets to the Great Salt Lake, the journey ends. The lake does not drain into any other water system. Therefore, any salt deposited in the lake stays there. Great amounts of water evaporate from the lake but the salt is left behind. The water is so salty that most aquatic animals cannot live there.

Humans have mined salt and other minerals from the lake since 1847, creating an important economic boost for this area. This will become even more important later in the article.

The size of the lake and the climate conditions of the lake create a situation where vast amounts of water evaporate from the lake every day. Not only does this make the lake even saltier, but it gives the region’s atmosphere a little moisture boost. Scientists have found that evaporation from the Great Salt Lake accounts for 5-10% of the snowfall that nearby mountains receive. That snow is an important source for freshwater for nearby communities and the extra snow provides a very large economic boost to the area in the form of ski tourism.

Current situation

Like everywhere else, the climate is changing in the area of the Great Salt Lake. The temperatures are a little warmer and they have experienced years of drought conditions. However, this is not really a story about climate change. While that is making the level of the lake fall a little bit, its not even close to the main reason.

This problem is caused by humans taking too much water out of the rivers that feed into the Great Salt Lake. More water is taken from the rivers than makes it to the lake. Evaporation from the lake now outpaces the water coming into the lake. It is losing water every single minute.

Research has found that while nearby communities are trying to cut back on their water consumption, they still use more water per person than other desert communities. And while everyone is worried about the situation, there has been pushback to make immediate progress. Some neighborhoods still require that residents keep their lawn green, which takes huge amounts of water in a desert climate, the price of water is quite low for residents, and buildings are not required to use the most efficient appliances. However, it’s not just about homes. Agriculture (growing food) uses 75% of the water taken from the Great Salt Lake rivers. People need to eat and our food needs lots of water to grow. Whatever the answer, the region has discovered that if they do not cut their water by 33-50%, their lake will disappear within 5 years.  Reducing water consumption that much is very difficult.

The consequences

So, what happens when the lake disappears? When the lake goes away, the water’s influence on the weather will also go away. The weather will be even warmer and drier.  The mountain snows will decrease by 5-10% and this will further decrease the amount of water in the rivers for cities. And the decreased snow amounts will decrease the revenue the region gets from ski resorts, which is a big business.

However, it’s even worse. The lakebed is full of toxic minerals, particularly high levels of arsenic, left behind by many years of mining.  Right now, the minerals are safely trapped at the bottom of the lake. However, as the lake has been drying, the lakebed has been turning to dust and the winds are creating arsenic dust storms that are poisoning its residents. As the lake continues to dry, the entire region may be uninhabitable. How this is handled over the next five years will be interesting to watch.

Time for a pop quiz

1. How was the Great Salt Lake formed?

2. Why is the Great Salt Lake so salty?

3. What is the biggest reason the lake is losing water?

4. What are three consequences that will occur as the Great Lake dries?

5. What is the only way to save the Great Salt Lake?

Last week's answers:

1. How can an animal improve a student’s reading skills?

Students who struggle with reading are often self-conscious about practicing in front of others for fear of making a mistake. Reading to an animal is a safe way for them to practice.

2. How can animals fill in the gap for a student feeling lonely?

Students who feel disconnected socially often benefit from having an animal friend to talk to without being judged.

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having animals compared to a purchased program?

Advantages of animal tutors: Much lower cost that purchased programs

Disadvantages: The care and upkeep of the animal

4. What is the biggest reason for low achievement in students?

Lack of engagement and motivation is the top reason for low student achievement.

5. If feeding a guinea pig costs about 20 cents a day? How much would purchasing and taking care of a guinea pig cost after a year?

Feeding: $.20 x 365 = $73 + $29 purchase price = $102 for the year.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: The disappearing Great Salt Lake