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On Wednesday, Governor Spencer Cox (R-UT) revealed that his administration has secured $200 million in funding pledges aimed at restoring the Great Salt Lake, the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere.
This initiative is part of a new public-private partnership named the Great Salt Lake 2034 Charter, which includes legislative leaders, philanthropic organizations, and business representatives focused on revitalizing the lake ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
“Across the world, saline lakes are in decline,” said Cox. “Utah will be the exception. This will be one of the greatest environmental success stories of our time, and we are going to write it together. The Great Salt Lake is our lake, our heritage, and our responsibility.”
During a press conference held at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center in Farmington Bay, Cox announced that Ducks Unlimited, a leading wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization, has committed $100 million to the GSL 2034 initiative. Another $100 million has been pledged by Great Salt Lake Rising, a coalition led by Josh Romney, a prominent business figure and son of former Utah senator Mitt Romney.
Cox’s initiative comes as the Great Salt Lake reached a record low in 2022, with the governor aiming to elevate the lake to 4,198 feet in the next decade. Achieving this goal is critical, as the lake’s elevation has fallen below 4,192 feet, entering a range that poses serious adverse effects, including increased dust storms and threats to brine shrimp viability, mineral production, and recreational activities.
The Utah State Legislature has been proactive, passing numerous bills and investing over $1 billion in statewide water conservation efforts.
This week, Cox encouraged Utah residents to join the charter, acknowledging the lake’s challenges and committing to personal changes to address them. He is optimistic that this effort could become “one of the great environmental successes in the history of humankind.”
“We will not let the Great Salt Lake fail,” the governor emphasized. “It’s part of the soul of Utah. It’s who we are. It’s what we’re known for across the world and across time.”
Josh Romney, who has played a significant role in the GSL 2034 initiative, told FOX 13 News that revitalizing the lake will require “a multi-billion dollar” effort. His discussions with local business leaders and Ben Abbott, the executive director of the advocacy group Grow the Flow, led to the formation of Great Salt Lake Rising, which has committed substantial resources for conservation measures.
“It’s going to take the state, the feds, the private community, philanthropic community, environmental community, everybody’s got to come together on this,” Romney stated.
