A new bill unveiled Tuesday would establish unprecedented guidelines for how Utah should respond to its shrinking Great Salt Lake.
What's new: Lake Mead, Lake Powell and the Great Salt Lake all hit record lows over the summer and into the fall. But unlike Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the Great Salt Lake doesn't have a comprehensive framework for how water districts and the state can try to curb its decline.
Why it matters: As the lakebed dries, more dust is exposed — dust that contains concentrations of heavy metals, including arsenic. Wind can pick up the dust and dump it along the Wasatch Front, potentially leading to cancer and cardiovascular disease for those exposed.
The lake is also a key factor in Utah's $1.5 billion ski industry, as the "lake effect" bolsters storms that roll into the Wasatch.
What's the plan?: Generally speaking, the idea is to take a market-based approach, rather than a mandate on water use. The plan would impose fees and allow the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands to buy or lease water rights from users in the Jordan, Weber and Bear river basins.
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