Federal funding injects $50M into Great Salt Lake recovery

The Great Salt Lake just scored $50 million from the Inflation Reduction Act, marking the largest-ever federal investment to help restore the struggling ecosystem and bring water back to this critical western landmark.

Kyle Dunphey reports for Utah News Dispatch.

In short:

Utah received $50 million to restore the Great Salt Lake, exceeding the state's original $10 million request, with funds allocated for ecosystem projects and leasing water rights.
Ecosystem restoration funds will target invasive species removal, wetland improvements and migratory bird habitats, vital for millions of birds relying on the lake.
The state’s innovative water-leasing strategy will redirect water to the lake, a model that could transform water rights across the drought-stricken West.

Key quote:

“This is the type of investment that we so desperately needed.”

— Brian Steed, Great Salt Lake Commissioner

Why this matters:

It’s the largest federal investment ever in this fragile ecosystem, a lifeline for millions of migratory birds and a critical buffer against Utah’s worsening dust storms. If Utah's plan works, it could set a precedent for managing water across the parched West, proving that cooperation—and a federal boost—might be what it takes to save an ecosystem on the brink. Read more: Wetland protections remain bogged down in mystery.

utahnewsdispatch.com

Federal funding injects $50M into Great Salt Lake recovery

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