Are you familiar with the Salt Lake that lends its name to Salt Lake City? It's known as the Great Salt Lake, but the term "great" might be somewhat misleading given its present state. The lake is experiencing a significant drop in water levels, which poses a serious risk to its future sustainability.

A study published in the scientific journal Environmental Challenges says nearly two-thirds of the Great Salt Lake’s shrinkage is due to human consumption of river water that otherwise would have been used to replenish the lake.

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Lakes are replenished by intricate and meandering systems of rivers, streams, creeks, and tributaries. Over the years, as our agricultural demands have increased, we have gradually redirected much of that water, primarily for the cultivation of crops that sustain livestock. As a result, the Great Salt Lake is experiencing significant drying, largely due to the water consumption of cattle.

The researchers say the lake’s water levels have constantly fluctuated since people started measuring such things back in 1847. The water levels seen in recent years, however, are lower and much more concerning than they’ve ever been. Water levels have been dropping by about four inches per year since 1987. In both 2021 and 2022, the lake experienced its lowest levels on record.

Despite the challenges, the researchers remain optimistic and have proposed several strategies to increase water levels. They suggest that cutting down on "anthropogenic" water usage by 35 percent could help bring the lake's water levels back to normal.

Anthropogenic is a sophisticated term that refers to environmental alterations that are directly triggered or significantly impacted by human activities. In simpler terms, if we can achieve a 35 percent decrease in the harmful practices contributing to the lake's water depletion, we can restore the water levels to their usual state. However, accomplishing this is more challenging than it sounds.

Researchers suggest that a good starting point would be to cut alfalfa production by 61 percent, as it serves as a key food source for livestock. Additionally, they propose that we should consider fallowing between 26 to 55 percent of grass hay production. However, this strategy carries a major drawback that you might have anticipated: it could lead to a substantial decline in agricultural revenue, estimated at around $97 million each year.

In a capitalist society, individuals would prefer to see the world crumble into mere particles carried off by a cosmic wind than forfeit nearly $100 million annually in profits.

Indeed, while that figure represents just 0.04% of Utah's GDP, researchers suggest that the lake contributes approximately $2.5 billion to the state's economy and sustains around 9,000 jobs. Therefore, it seems prudent to prioritize the preservation and health of the lake.