Watershed Symposium 2022

The implications of misconceptions surrounding Utah Lake have become clear as wildly diverse proposals have been made for the lake’s management. This interdisciplinary panel will discuss Utah Lake research, management, and education to try to uproot misinformation and encourage evidence-based stewardship of this unique ecosystem.

Utah Lake is a large and unique waterbody at the heart of Utah Valley. Upstream of the Jordan River and Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake’s status is central to the functioning and resiliency of the Great Salt Lake watershed. Though it is one of the largest freshwater lakes west of the Mississippi River, many in the broader community know little about Utah Lake’s history, ecology, and importance to our future. This cultural disconnect has led to widespread misconceptions about the status of the lake, the effectiveness of management interventions, and the setting of restoration targets. While some of the Utah Lake debate has stemmed from legitimate scientific uncertainty, much of the confusion and controversy has its origins in political and regulatory pressures. The proposal to build islands on Utah Lake and the creation of the new Utah Lake Authority have intensified the political “heat”.

In this panel discussion, we will provide a brief overview of the Utah Lake ecosystem and then jump into its controversies regarding management, perception, research, and legislation. We will try to identify areas of consensus and continued scientific debate. We will also address the ideological and structural struggles that have occasionally hampered effective management and messaging about Utah Lake. Specifically, we will discuss trends and causes of algal blooms, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and approaches for improving public understanding and management of Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake watershed more broadly.