Around the world, there are more than 120 major saline lakes—some of the most famous include the Caspian Sea, the Dead Sea, and, of course, Great Salt Lake. Though just over 100 lakes may seem like a small number compared to the millions of freshwater lakes worldwide—these lakes represent “44% of the volume and 23% of the area of all lakes on Earth”. Among saline lakes, an unfortunate global pattern has emerged; just like Great Salt Lake, nearly every one of these lakes is in decline.
Let’s look at why saline lakes are dying across the globe, and what efforts are being made to bring them back to healthy levels.
What’s Happening?
The causes of global saline lakes declining worldwide can be sorted into two categories: climate change and anthropogenic (human) activities.
Saline lakes most often exist in semi-arid and arid climates, characterized by low to extremely low amounts of rainfall, such as is the case in Utah. Climate change often exacerbates these conditions. Longer, more intense droughts, less rainfall, increasing temperatures, and increasing rates of evaporation means less water in these lakes.
Reduced precipitation and increased temperatures that reduced inflows were some of the contributing factors to Lake Poopó in Bolivia completely drying up in 2015. These photos of the lake were taken just three years apart:
Another often more significant contributor to lake decline is human activity. Societies around the world commonly divert the water meant to make its way to saline lakes for industry, urban water use, and agricultural support.
For example, due to large-scale water diversion projects to construct dams, reservoirs, and canals, the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is now one-tenth of its original size of 60,000 square miles. As another example, water diversion for human use, such as drinking water and irrigation, has reduced the size of the Dead Sea by nearly half.
Water is often a precious resource in dry environments where saline lakes exist. As populations increase and drought conditions worsen, communities will likely continue taking from the water sources needed to maintain the lakes.
Impacts of Saline Lake Decline
Dozens of examples around the world, including Great Salt Lake in Utah, demonstrate how declining saline lakes can have damaging ecological, health, economic, and cultural effects.
Ecological Impacts: Saline lakes function as an important habitat for many types of plant and animal species. Their decline means a loss of that habitat. For example, the decline of California’s Salton Sea led to >95% decline in fish species, and the decline of Iran’s Bakhtegan Lake led to high mortality rates in flamingo populations.
Health Impacts: Some of the most significant health impacts from saline lake decline come from toxic dust storms caused by dried-up lakebeds. These include “respiratory illnesses, lung inflammation, and hypertension.” In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency declared the dry lakebed of California’s Owens Lake to be the source of the worst dust pollution in the country. In a survey published in 2000, residents living near Owens Lake reported experiencing a number of health problems from the dust, including allergies, breathing problems, and asthma.
Economic Impacts: Saline lakes can serve an important economic function for the communities that surround them. They often support fishing, agricultural, and tourism industries. When the saline lakes dry up, these dependent industries suffer. For example, the Salton Sea’s decline has led to huge losses in both the tourism and agriculture industries that it supported.
Projects to restore these lakes and reverse the damage done by their decline are also incredibly expensive. Restoring the Dead Sea could cost the countries surrounding it over $11 billion, and maintenance to prevent future decline could cost nearly $500 million annually.
Cultural Impacts: Saline lakes can serve as important cultural centerpieces for many communities. This is the case in Utah, as even our capital city gets its name from Great Salt Lake.
Saline lakes also serve as important pieces of Indigenous cultures worldwide. In Bolivia, the dried-up Lake Poopó supported and served the Uru Murato community, whose name translates to “water people.” The majority of this community, who once lived off the fish and waterfowl provided by the lake, have had to leave the area or heavily adapt their lifestyles.
Looking Forward
Because human activity is the primary driver of saline lakes’ decline, it is also within our power to reverse it. Restoring inflows and reducing water consumption are critical to bringing these lakes back to healthy levels.
Despite efforts worldwide, no community or country has ever restored its dying saline lake. This has led to devastating impacts on local economies, public health, culture, and ecosystems.
This presents Utah with a unique opportunity to create a blueprint for the world. Not only can we protect our own community’s well-being, but our efforts can teach other communities globally about how to adapt their practices to protect and restore saline lakes, turning the tide on international saline lake decline.
Lainey Cartwright is a volunteer contributor.
