We as Utahns take pride in our Great Salt lake. It is the lake that aided in the founding of our great state, and it remains an icon of the natural beauty of Utah.
Despite our love for the lake, it has been disappearing at a rapid pace for quite some time. Over 53% of the lake bed is exposed, and its decline only grows in speed despite our prayers.
It goes without saying that we want to keep this icon of Utah around, yet we often feel lost on what we can do to preserve the waters of our beauty. It’s my belief that there are three things we Utahns should do to put our lake first and bring Utah forward into the future.
We spend an absurd amount of money and resources on our water, and we should learn how to decrease our need for it. One thing we could do is replace our water-hungry grass lawns with more friendly alternatives, like native plants.
Despite contributing less than 10% to our economy, alfalfa and hay farms use up a majority of the Lake’s water. Despite not showing enough economic benefit to justify their existence, contractors wish to build large data centers all over our landscape. We should advocate against these and propose more friendly alternatives to our landscape, with better economic benefits.
Lastly, take action to ensure results get through. We should use our vote to elect representatives who will take action.
The Great Salt Lake is our pride and joy, and it is our duty as residents of this beautiful state to preserve it at every step. We should defend the lake diligently and keep it surviving to be an icon for generations to come.
August Hicks
Eagle Mountain