A recent New York Times article has once again put the crisis facing Great Salt Lake on the national stage. The piece lays bare what many Utahns already know: unless major reductions in water use happen fast, the lake’s ongoing collapse could set off cascading ecological, economic, and public health disasters across the state.
The article explains how decades of excessive water consumption—compounded by slow, incremental policy changes—have pushed the lake toward a dangerous tipping point. Without swift and bold action, scientists warn the consequences could rival some of the worst environmental crises in U.S. history. From toxic dust storms to ecosystem collapse, the risks are mounting.
“The legislative and executive appetite to get water to the lake has absolutely evaporated,” Grow the Flow Executive Director Ben Abbott said in the article.
The New York Times explains that agriculture uses about 71% of the water that would otherwise reach Great Salt Lake, making it a key part of both the problem and the solution. Lawmakers have created programs to help farmers conserve and lease water to the lake, but participation remains low due to economic risks and a lack of trust. Still, crops like alfalfa—which can go dormant during dry years—offer potential for win-win solutions if better safeguards and tracking systems are put in place.
Experts agree that solutions exist and Utah has the tools to implement them. What’s needed now is the will to act.
This kind of national spotlight is critical. Utahns are concerned about the lake—in fact, a new statewide survey revealed that nearly three-quarters of residents worry about the state’s water supply. But broad public awareness and federal attention can help bring the resources, pressure, and momentum needed to drive systemic change. The more people understand what’s at stake, the harder it becomes for decision-makers to delay.