The Great Salt Lake in the United States is facing overexploitation of its water, which is causing a chain reaction conducive to its disappearance.
The list of species and places to save from pollution and climate change is growing day by day. The Great Barrier Reef, as we know, is in danger. Another natural wonder is under threat: the Great Salt Lake. Several studies have already alerted; but one very comprehensive report was released in early 2023.
” The Great Salt Lake is facing unprecedented danger. Without a dramatic increase in the lake’s water flow in 2023 and 2024, its disappearance could cause immense damage to Utah’s public health, environment and economy. “says this report.
But where did the water of the Great Salt Lake go?
The Great Salt Lake is now just over 5 meters below its natural (as calculated in 1850) and this water loss has accelerated since 2020. The report finds that it has lost 73% of its water and 60% of its surface. Result : ” If this rate of loss continues, the lake as we know it is set to disappear in five years. »
In question, a bad use of water resources in the region: the water of the lake is overexploited by humanity, for agriculture, industry and cities. However, salt lakes are very sensitive to overexploitation, their balance is fragile between the flow of water brought in and its evaporation.
And this excessive use generates a chain reaction. The ecosystem dries out and the dry beds risk releasing more toxic dust – arsenic, mercury, lead, copper, cyanotoxins – which endangers the local fauna and flora. Drying out also leads to an increase in salt levels, exposing the lake to salinity saturation. incompatible with the lake’s food chain “.
The impact could be wider because, as the report highlights, the Great Salt Lake plays a role in the overall ecosystem and even the economy of the entire Western Hemisphere. It represents a habitat and a source of food for 10 million migratory birds each year; and for a large part of the region’s wildlife. It plays a role in the precipitation cycle and supports 80% of wetlands in Utah (USA). ” The Great Salt Lake also provides many ecosystem services, including protecting air quality, eliminating water pollution, and moderating the local climate. “, adds the report.
On the human side, the lake and its wetlands provide natural resources and thousands of jobs. It also provides food for millions of people.
The report calls for increased legislation: strict rules are needed to protect the Great Salt Lake and conserve its water; by limiting the extraction rate using, in particular, financial constraints. Intake techniques to increase the water flow again should also be considered, but conservation remains the key.
