I really don't think some people understand the gravity of what's going on with the GSL. It's been around for thousands of years and has survived its share of droughts. What it HASN'T had to deal with is 3.5 million people slurping up and over-allocating water from its tributaries, water-intensive alfalfa and other crops grown in a desert, and industry all vying for what little water there is. Put these factors together with a 20 year drought and we are where we are.
The lake is in serious trouble. Salinity levels are so high now that brine fly reproduction is almost non-existent. What adult flies that are left are for the most part small and unhealthy - definitely not in a state where reproduction is possible. Brine flies make up over 85% of the food web for migrating birds that pass through the GSL during migration. Brine shrimp are showing signs of significant stress too. If conditions continue downward, they have a couple years and they will be where the brine flies are at. They make up the remaining 15% of the food web. If these two organisms collapse, there goes the wildlife that depend on them. World reknown duck hunting on recreational birding? Kiss that good bye. Let me reiterate - the brine flies are already on their way out as we speak.
A low GSL reduces the amount of lake effect snow that our ski resorts receive. Like that light, dry powder? Kiss that good bye as the GSL continues to shrink. And all the related tourist economy that goes with it. Yeah that goes too as our skiing quality deteriorates.
A dry lake bed will cause (and is causing now to a lesser degree) respiratory issues as dust high in heavy metals is picked up and distributed along the Wasatch Front. Do you like your health? Well, kiss that good bye too - especially if you already are immune compromised in some way, shape or form.
A GSL in decline or abject collapse affects every one of us. There is no way around it, and to continue to deny there is a problem is like an ostrich putting it's head in the sand. ANYTHING we can do to get more water into that lake and stabilize what's going on is a GOOD thing. If it's 23,000 acre feet at first, well let's start there. The lake needs 2 million acre feet! Maybe we get rid of front lawns, perhaps we install more efficient toilets, plumbing, water metering, rotating to more water fuel-efficient crops. There are so many areas where we CAN improve but it takes some COLLECTIVE will to do it. Israel has a similar climate to Utah's, yet we use 5 times the water over here. Maybe that even means that we may have to sacrifice some of the water in our reservoirs and potentially fishing quality along with it. If we continue to be selfish and self-serving in the short term, our long term ramifications are not pleasant whatsoever. It's time to be up and doing...NOW.
I really don't think some people understand the gravity of what's going on with the GSL. It's been around for thousands of years and has survived its share of droughts. What it HASN'T had to deal with is 3.5 million people slurping up and over-allocating water from its tributaries, water-intensive alfalfa and other crops grown in a desert, and industry all vying for what little water there is. Put these factors together with a 20 year drought and we are where we are.
The lake is in serious trouble. Salinity levels are so high now that brine fly reproduction is almost non-existent. What adult flies that are left are for the most part small and unhealthy - definitely not in a state where reproduction is possible. Brine flies make up over 85% of the food web for migrating birds that pass through the GSL during migration. Brine shrimp are showing signs of significant stress too. If conditions continue downward, they have a couple years and they will be where the brine flies are at. They make up the remaining 15% of the food web. If these two organisms collapse, there goes the wildlife that depend on them. World reknown duck hunting on recreational birding? Kiss that good bye. Let me reiterate - the brine flies are already on their way out as we speak.
A low GSL reduces the amount of lake effect snow that our ski resorts receive. Like that light, dry powder? Kiss that good bye as the GSL continues to shrink. And all the related tourist economy that goes with it. Yeah that goes too as our skiing quality deteriorates.
A dry lake bed will cause (and is causing now to a lesser degree) respiratory issues as dust high in heavy metals is picked up and distributed along the Wasatch Front. Do you like your health? Well, kiss that good bye too - especially if you already are immune compromised in some way, shape or form.
A GSL in decline or abject collapse affects every one of us. There is no way around it, and to continue to deny there is a problem is like an ostrich putting it's head in the sand. ANYTHING we can do to get more water into that lake and stabilize what's going on is a GOOD thing. If it's 23,000 acre feet at first, well let's start there. The lake needs 2 million acre feet! Maybe we get rid of front lawns, perhaps we install more efficient toilets, plumbing, water metering, rotating to more water fuel-efficient crops. There are so many areas where we CAN improve but it takes some COLLECTIVE will to do it. Israel has a similar climate to Utah's, yet we use 5 times the water over here. Maybe that even means that we may have to sacrifice some of the water in our reservoirs and potentially fishing quality along with it. If we continue to be selfish and self-serving in the short term, our long term ramifications are not pleasant whatsoever. It's time to be up and doing...NOW.
Why that posted twice, I have no idea. Maybe the website thought it was that important? ??
The lake is in serious trouble. Salinity levels are so high now that brine fly reproduction is almost non-existent. What adult flies that are left are for the most part small and unhealthy - definitely not in a state where reproduction is possible. Brine flies make up over 85% of the food web for migrating birds that pass through the GSL during migration. Brine shrimp are showing signs of significant stress too. If conditions continue downward, they have a couple years and they will be where the brine flies are at. They make up the remaining 15% of the food web. If these two organisms collapse, there goes the wildlife that depend on them. World reknown duck hunting on recreational birding? Kiss that good bye. Let me reiterate - the brine flies are already on their way out as we speak.
A low GSL reduces the amount of lake effect snow that our ski resorts receive. Like that light, dry powder? Kiss that good bye as the GSL continues to shrink. And all the related tourist economy that goes with it. Yeah that goes too as our skiing quality deteriorates.
A dry lake bed will cause (and is causing now to a lesser degree) respiratory issues as dust high in heavy metals is picked up and distributed along the Wasatch Front. Do you like your health? Well, kiss that good bye too - especially if you already are immune compromised in some way, shape or form.
A GSL in decline or abject collapse affects every one of us. There is no way around it, and to continue to deny there is a problem is like an ostrich putting it's head in the sand. ANYTHING we can do to get more water into that lake and stabilize what's going on is a GOOD thing. If it's 23,000 acre feet at first, well let's start there. The lake needs 2 million acre feet! Maybe we get rid of front lawns, perhaps we install more efficient toilets, plumbing, water metering, rotating to more water fuel-efficient crops. There are so many areas where we CAN improve but it takes some COLLECTIVE will to do it. Israel has a similar climate to Utah's, yet we use 5 times the water over here. Maybe that even means that we may have to sacrifice some of the water in our reservoirs and potentially fishing quality along with it. If we continue to be selfish and self-serving in the short term, our long term ramifications are not pleasant whatsoever. It's time to be up and doing...NOW.
I really don't think some people understand the gravity of what's going on with the GSL. It's been around for thousands of years and has survived its share of droughts. What it HASN'T had to deal with is 3.5 million people slurping up and over-allocating water from its tributaries, water-intensive alfalfa and other crops grown in a desert, and industry all vying for what little water there is. Put these factors together with a 20 year drought and we are where we are.
The lake is in serious trouble. Salinity levels are so high now that brine fly reproduction is almost non-existent. What adult flies that are left are for the most part small and unhealthy - definitely not in a state where reproduction is possible. Brine flies make up over 85% of the food web for migrating birds that pass through the GSL during migration. Brine shrimp are showing signs of significant stress too. If conditions continue downward, they have a couple years and they will be where the brine flies are at. They make up the remaining 15% of the food web. If these two organisms collapse, there goes the wildlife that depend on them. World reknown duck hunting on recreational birding? Kiss that good bye. Let me reiterate - the brine flies are already on their way out as we speak.
A low GSL reduces the amount of lake effect snow that our ski resorts receive. Like that light, dry powder? Kiss that good bye as the GSL continues to shrink. And all the related tourist economy that goes with it. Yeah that goes too as our skiing quality deteriorates.
A dry lake bed will cause (and is causing now to a lesser degree) respiratory issues as dust high in heavy metals is picked up and distributed along the Wasatch Front. Do you like your health? Well, kiss that good bye too - especially if you already are immune compromised in some way, shape or form.
A GSL in decline or abject collapse affects every one of us. There is no way around it, and to continue to deny there is a problem is like an ostrich putting it's head in the sand. ANYTHING we can do to get more water into that lake and stabilize what's going on is a GOOD thing. If it's 23,000 acre feet at first, well let's start there. The lake needs 2 million acre feet! Maybe we get rid of front lawns, perhaps we install more efficient toilets, plumbing, water metering, rotating to more water fuel-efficient crops. There are so many areas where we CAN improve but it takes some COLLECTIVE will to do it. Israel has a similar climate to Utah's, yet we use 5 times the water over here. Maybe that even means that we may have to sacrifice some of the water in our reservoirs and potentially fishing quality along with it. If we continue to be selfish and self-serving in the short term, our long term ramifications are not pleasant whatsoever. It's time to be up and doing...NOW.
Why that posted twice, I have no idea. Maybe the website thought it was that important? ??