Will Utah's Great Salt Lake disappear?

Utah's Great Salt Lake has been in decline, owing to climate change, drought, and over-use of water resources, and is now one-third the size it was in the 1980s. A new scientific report warns that, without dramatic and immediate cuts in water consumption, the lake could vanish in just five years. Correspondent Lee Cowan talks with Sen. Mitt Romney, who co-sponsored a bill studying the lake's problems, and with experts who say aggressive action is needed.
#greatsaltlake #utah #waterconservation
"CBS Sunday Morning" features stories on the arts, music, nature, entertainment, sports, history, science and Americana, and highlights unique human accomplishments and achievements. Check local listings for CBS Sunday Morning broadcast times.
Subscribe to the "CBS Sunday Morning" KZbin channel: bit.ly/20gXwJT
Get more of "CBS Sunday Morning": cbsn.ws/1PlMmAz
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Instagram: bit.ly/23XunIh
Like "CBS Sunday Morning" on Facebook: bit.ly/3sRgLPG
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Twitter: bit.ly/1RquoQb
Subscribe to our newsletter: cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T
Download the CBS News app: cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8
Try Paramount+ free: bit.ly/2OiW1kZ
For video licensing inquiries, contact: [e-mail]

[@RHTeebs]

It's heartbreaking to see a lake you know so well, die. I'm from Buffalo. When Lake Erie was classified as a dead lake, I was devastated. I know it's not quite the same, but, seeing a lake you love, filled with memories, being classified as dead. Unsafe to swim in. It would be awful. I couldn't even imagine seeing Lake Erie disappear completely.

[@guyserious2468]

It's not even caused by nature. It's just being drained by God loving lawns.

[@feelinguru-vywiththepaingu9808]

I understand. For my family it's Lake Mead in Arizona and Nevada. So many memories are caught up in it. To see the water so low is heartbreaking.

[@carlpierce7991]

When you mean its dead does that mean its polluted and stuff?

[@darksu6947]

​@@carlpierce7991 Yes that's what it means.

[@thesoundsmith]

It IS the same. We are killing the ecosystem. And NOBODY is seriously trying to stop it, they just want to buy their way out and blame the other guy. We are the SECOND LARGEST polluter, and we shipped all our manufacturing to China or Mexico. WTF are we DOING to generate all that crap?

[@mrscottygreenwood]

The state knew this was coming and just kept ignoring the problem

[@marcoschavez1028]

Mormonism at its best

[@HobbyOrganist]

The root of all todays problems is human overpopulation, the consquences of jamming 333 MILLION people onto the same land area that as recently as the year 1900 had just 75 million, and just 100 years before that in 1800 the population was only a little more than live in NY City alone today- about 14 million. As long as we keep adding more people exponentially like this, the problem will only get worse no matter what "mitigation" measures are attempted.

[@O-sa-car]

It’s not too many people but they’re in the wrong places and too much farming is done in arid areas

[@zonegaming3498]

@@HobbyOrganist Maybe you should take action on this situation of overpopulation and lower it by not existing.

[@AxelQC]

Exasperating the problem by putting growth ahead of ecology.

[@iansmith2094]

Utah appears to be ignoring the obvious correction. STOP diverting water away from the lake. No company, individual, nor organization has a right to any of the water that then generates a problem for someone else. Period. End stop. Cut off all diversions by all force necessary, NOW. What part of that does Utah not understand.?

[@sherriianiro747]

Someone earlier in this thread said the farmers are on the water board.

[@obstinatehammer7113]

"Alfalfa farming represents 0.2% of the Utah economy but uses 68% of available water." The Salt Lake Tribune

[@crIms0ngen]

That sounds like something that should just outright end immediately, full-stop.

[@ozzyoz1495]

I know people people tend to distrust government often with good reason. However, I feel this is one of the most clear cut cases where private enterprise should not triumph over the public good. The residents of the great salt lake should collectively decide if growing alfalfa in an arid environment is good for them and a good use of their resources.

[@windrider23]

And 29 percent of that alfalfa is grown for overseas export. 2/3 of which goes to China.

[@feelinguru-vywiththepaingu9808]

​@@windrider23 Therein lies a problem. Why does another country need our alfalfa? Is it solely to serve the 1% of our population?

[@alanbourne2332]

@@ozzyoz1495 could buy the water rights from the farmers and then put it in the Lake

[@xstraightedgefishingx]

I never thought I would ever say I could respect Mitt Romney, but I have to give him due credit for this.

[@petebusch9069]

Credit for what, just standing there watching it dry up?

[@skiyalater626]

Credit for what? Nature TRUMPS Romney and will have its way.

[@buyallmeans425]

For what...? 25 million to monitor the situation. What have they been doing for the last decade or more?

[@josephmayfield945]

@@skiyalater626 “I’m in a cult.”

[@romstar]

For the lake to recede that dramatically over the course of at least 40 years is tragic 😭🥺

[@thisguy73]

Let me guess you contribute to George Soros.

[@kitlc1]

As a former Utahn, this is so sad. It’s such a naturally beautiful place that deserves to be environmentally protected.

[@coomtothebroom778]

As a former Utahn myself, I echo this statement. A natural beauty sadly lost and deserves protection for our descendants.

[@isocarboxazid]

Vote Republican, vote for climate deniers, reap the rewards. Great job, Utah.

[@rzrdude2782]

@@isocarboxazid not sure what this has to do with politics. But it will be full again after the crazy amount of snow we got this winter.

[@ckstaff]

It doesn't need protection, it needs water.

[@ckstaff]

@@isocarboxazid Are you saying Democrats can fill the Great Salt Lake? LOL

[@anthonys.8569]

As a Salt Lake resident- this is one of many reasons I plan to move out of the valley. Not taking the risk of this with my family.

[@annapri1526]

These kind of stories always make me cry. I'm about to finish my Bachelors of Science in Energy and Sustainability Policy at Penn State and learning about all the damage to our planet over the last 150 years makes me extremely sad and worried everyday.

[@loriblessner9663]

My first visit in the late 80’s, the lake was lapping at I-80 as we drove by, creepy. Last visit in 2019, water nowhere to be seen. I thought I had taken a wrong turn, such a difference 😢

[@thisguy73]

Vota MAGA! DONALD J TRUMP WOULD MAKE THIS LAKE RISE FASTER THAN JESUS CHRIST!

[@crookedbird6589]

If you live in a dry country you shouldn't have green lawns.

[@oquirrhlight]

The disconnect between neighborhood development/home building and water use is nothing short of blindness. They are building homes and apartment complexes like never before. Lawns and trees and golf courses and sanitary needs come with each of these homes. It amazes me how they continue to develop unchecked, like water is infinitely available. We can’t live without agriculture, that’s a waste of time to discuss. However, something needs to be done about the unprecedented development and housing growth in the second driest state in the Union. Politicizing this issue is a waste of energy. Whether you believe in global warming or not is a waste of energy. The fact is, our growth exceeded our resources many decades ago and yet we march on as if everything will always be ok.

[@666size666]

The GSL Strike Team just released their report and all other factors combined still don't even make up one third of the water usage from agriculture. Yes, developers are to blame but not even close to the blame agriculture....especially alfalfa farmers...are responsible for. Gov. Cox's deal with Texas Instruments is also foolish.

[@TheBandit7613]

68% of the water is diverted to grow alfalfa. It's not the lawns or toilet flushing.

[@bearnuts]

You are so Spot On

[@rainbowssparkle1499]

@@666size666 alfalfa is grown to feed those cows all of those people want to eat though isn’t it? There is always a direct correlation to agriculture and people.

[@666size666]

@@rainbowssparkle1499 50-60% of Utah's alfalfa is shipped to China. Growing animal feeds in another state that isn't an arid desert makes much more sense, however, as I do not eat cows, I view cows (at 1,847 gallons of water to produce a mere 1 pound of beef) also a waste of resources.

[@guyserious2468]

Every "fix" to the help our environment is going to cost someone somewhere a profit. It will be said that "jobs are going to be lost." But a job is temporary, and a profit is private. We're talking about our obligation to our descendants.

[@tuckerbugeater]

So consumers don't benefit from their business?

[@JG-tt4sz]

Ok boomer.

[@guyserious2468]

@@JG-tt4sz lol your reply

[@mattalley4330]

Most people are so short-sighted that they, atleast when it comes to their deeds, dont care about our descendants. They will say otherwise, but actions speak louder than words. Those helping this happen are effectively raising a big middle finger to future generations. Sad but true.

[@Zb_Calisthenic]

"Blessed are those who plant trees under whose shade they will never sit"

[@pottergirl287]

The effects of Owens Lake drying up are incredible for that area of California. For SLC, that's going to be increased a hundred fold.

[@vilstef6988]

In CA, there is also the drying up of Mono Lake and the Salton Sea. The dust from the dry lakebeds is a threat to human health!

[@cadespencer6320]

@@vilstef6988 Tulare Lake too!

[@_A4A]

Not sure why 2.5 Million people thought it would be wise to live in the desert and not think once about the cost of doing so!....

[@Zb_Calisthenic]

Apathy, lethargy.

[@ramonnape]

breaks my heart💔im not in utah but i hope there becomes an ambitious plan to save this beautiful wonder of the world, and the citizens of slc!🧡

[@cbpd89]

In the short term, we have excellent snow pack and rain this winter, so the lake isn't shrinking this year! Long term, we'll see if the changes enacted are enough and we keep asking our government and our neighbors to do more!

[@bonlevina5621]

"Lawns are so last century!"

[@d.s.2519]

Thank you for highlighting this crises to a national level.

[@linguaphile42]

Step one: quit watering lawns.

[@darksu6947]

Step two: Stop living in the desert. It's stupid and shortsighted.

[@mattalley4330]

Actually, things like lawns and golf courses use a small fraction of the water. Its inefficient use of water on farms more than anything that is causing this, although climate change is a close second. I agree with darksu. The desert southwest/great basin region is a house of cards that could collapse very soon.

[@blueshattrick]

Sure.. but 70% of the water goes to agriculture

[@linguaphile42]

@@blueshattrick So what is your Step Two?

[@jamesmcintyre4243]

LOL nahhh

[@edwardrosenthal1764]

wow, powerful story

[@dylanlough5234]

This made me teary eyed.

[@kaylenemiller1804]

Stop building the thousands of apartment and condocomplexes. Stop moving here!

[@joaminow6943]

Since he was in high school population in the Salt Lake Basin has tripled. Lake is 1/3 the size. Hmmm. You do the math.

[@codycluff]

I've lived in SLC my whole life, and while it is bad and we do need to take action, there is hope on the horizon. The lake has risen over a foot this year, and it's long before we see spring runoff. The snowpack that will feed the lake is also way above normal this year.

[@feelinguru-vywiththepaingu9808]

It will take years of that.

[@RileyStroud99]

The problem is that because of the many many years of continued drought, the root systems of the plants in the Rockies tend to hold onto more water than is necessary. Just because we saw a larger amount of snow this year doesn’t necessarily mean that we will see a proportionate amount of runoff.

[@Jane-ur4te]

That spring run-off will come in and be gone fast.

[@codycluff]

It will definitely take more than one good year, but as they mentioned in the story, Utah has also enacted measures that will conserve many hundreds of acre-feet of water. We also had a wet fall, so the ground was well saturated prior to the buildup of the snowpack. There is still a long way to go, but ultimately I'm hopeful that the lake will not only survive, but thrive again in years to come.

[@aqueen13]

I am so grateful for the heavy snowpack this year for our great salt lake… what do think of their idea to put in a pipeline from the ocean? Seems more logical than any other solution to me, since both are salt water

[@AxelQC]

The Great Salt Lake is the canary in the coalmine for the US West. The loss of the lake is devastating, but it forebodes a massive drought in the Western 1/3 of the US due to climate change and excess human population there.

[@rhinman]

This environmentalism by Utah politicians is a NEW THING. They allowed this for years. Now they're spending our tax dollars to correct their "choices" (they weren't mistakes). Of course they put the water conservation on the citizens.

[@tribemayamex]

Native americans lived in harmony with nature for 20000years. Usa is only few hundred years in power and land has been depleated of animals, plants, big trees and more. Sad to see it all gone

[@blondie7240]

yeah that's a bit racist and not true, native American tribes were just as in "harmony" with nature as European, African, or Asian tribes.

[@thisguy73]

Native Americans hate the GOP and love George Soros. Sad.

[@poolhall9632]

Yes, that’s what happens when you live in the desert and use more water than the environment can provide… It’s almost like people shouldn’t live in the desert🤔

[@ramonnape]

agreed, the feds shouldve always had a population limit or a population control in the southwest in general!

[@feelinguru-vywiththepaingu9808]

Living in the desert isn't the problem. Native Americans did for hundreds of years without an issue. The white man came to the desert and said, "Woohooo! We can golf here all year!" So they planted acres and acres of grass. It's when we put the burden on nature to provide what isn't natural to provide that's the problem.

[@jfrankerickson8993]

@@feelinguru-vywiththepaingu9808 Congratulations! you get the woke Hippie award for the first to blame the "white man". Way to stick with the zeitgeist.

[@sicknado]

OR....or....we stop global warming with the 10 billion people that live on this planet. (used to be 150 million for a very long time)

[@dobbysboggart6883]

​@@ramonnape ... I hate Thanosism

[@watermaster2197]

The solution is simple: (1) the Legislature needs to buy and lease a really big amount of water from farmers and ranchers; (2) keep it in the streams; and, (3) make sure it reaches the lake and isn't used to build more subdivisions. None of that is easy, mind you, just simple.

[@matthew3136]

Not buy and lease. Cancel.

[@watermaster2197]

@@matthew3136 Just a tiny Fifth Amendment issue with that.

[@lexicat6177]

I lived there in the late 80's. That's really eye opening.

[@adamwallace8082]

Hey Mitt, if you really want to fix the Great Salt Lake issue... 1. Change the water use, and water rights for the Great Salt Lake watershed. 2. TAX, TAX, TAX! Corporations! such as Exxon Mobil, and others that are directly responsible for causing climate change, and using the tax revenue to fix the problem! Stop letting the organizations causing the problems off the hook!

[@feelinguru-vywiththepaingu9808]

Yes!

[@jfrankerickson8993]

Interesting. You realize those "evil corporations" are providing a product in demand. Taxing corporations is passed directly onto the consumer. To believe otherwise is idiotic.

[@MrMatteNWk]

But corporations are people, my friend.

[@thisguy73]

CORPORATIONS ARE PEOPLE BABY!

[@MijoShrek]

@@MrMatteNWk not when it comes to their tax filings and abiding by laws and regulations that the average American does. They simply have the ability to lobby their interest with funding. The corporations interest is in opposition to the best interest of people that would ask for protections against being exploited by a corporate entity. As can be shown through the productivity of workers has increased over time decade after decade. While wages have remain stagnate as CEO salaries increased exponentially. This is just part of the m an example of being the systems being beholden to corporations over the good and will of the people.

[@danbilyeu6678]

Yay! Lee is hosting!!!! Great show!!!!

[@tracelucas8083]

Unbelievable. Very very very sad !!! :(

[@jjj1951]

Growing lawns in the desert. Ludricous

[@TheBandit7613]

It's not the lawns, it's mostly alfalfa. 68% of the water is diverted to grow alfalfa.

[@jeffgold3091]

when you look at the well meaning mistakes made in the past , it’s interesting to reflect on what mistakes are being made today that people will scratch their heads about 50 years from now

[@Me97202]

I think calling them well-meaning mistakes is naïve. These corporations and their government enablers have known about the problem for decades.

[@rustyshackle917]

Lead, asbestos, PFAs, coal, oil, plastics.... Future generations will be aghast at what current generations see as "normal" and they'll be cleaning up the mess.

[@andybaldman]

There won’t be anything in 50 years.

[@barnbuild27]

It’s interesting that people in 1983 were worried that flooding along the Wasatch Front was going to pour so much fresh water into the Great Salt Lake that the salt water would be diluted and the ecosystem would be destroyed.

[@oleggorky906]

I read about that in Lonely Planet, of all things.

[@GilmerJohn]

Exactly. These silly alarmists nuts always are looking to micromanage everything. The reality is that most surface (and deep well) water is used for growing crops. Perhaps it's time to impose a modest tax on agriculture water use. If you goal is to maintain the lake level, the tax rate would vary with the lake level. The farmers would have amble warning of what their water costs would be in the coming year.

[@HobbyOrganist]

All of these features are temporary anyway, lakes dry up, rivers dry up, rivers change course, forests die off, the landscape is always changing

[@Jakestar105]

I remember driving from Monterey Ca thru the great salt lake basin (I-80) in 1985. It was early evening maybe? hazy dusty and there were a bunch of road workers all wearing, what looked like to me space suits, holding pennants and things. A pretty bizarre sight as I headed for Salt Lake City to find a hotel for the night.

[@bingusbingus776]

It's so sad to watch the world cry out for Help and see nothing done to stop it.Wake up before its way to late.

[@Ex_christian]

It’s the Republican way……

[@bingusbingus776]

@@Ex_christian 💯

[@jamestucker8088]

Two things would really help. First seal off the north west section of the lake by closing the holes in the rail road causeway. This will keep the water in the southern part of the lake. Then stop growing 1/2 acre of grass around every house and let the water flow into the lake. The water used inside houses doesn't cause a problem. It flows to a sewer treatment plant and then to the Great Salt Lake.

[@takeiteasynacho]

I live on the northern end and no do not close it off. Farming needs to use better watering practices than flood irrigation. That’s the most inefficient way to irrigate. Yard golf courses and public works still make a small percentage of total water diverted. It’s the irrigation that’s the main factor.

[@guythatpaysforyourhandouts2478]

Or you could just realize it's not sustainable that's why it's a SALT LAKE.

[@GhostRyder2008]

@@guythatpaysforyourhandouts2478 It's a salty lake because it has no outlet. It was salty before humans started settling in the area and using the water that would flow to it.

[@guythatpaysforyourhandouts2478]

@@GhostRyder2008Thanks for proving my point a salt lake is not sustainable.

[@GhostRyder2008]

@@guythatpaysforyourhandouts2478 not sure what your definition of sustaining a salt lake means then

[@marclegarreta3359]

Heartbreaking!

[@daveyboygee]

Sad story but some of the best reporting I've seen on CBS in years. Excellent piece. I will be showing this to my 5th grade class.

[@mikekarlin7452]

Pump water from the ocean itll work!! Maybe even help with rising ocean levels

[@Jane-ur4te]

They looked into that and it would cost trillions to pump that much water across the sirerra mountains.

[@nearkolob]

I wonder why they didn't mention that the levels are rising faster than normal this year? And that one good snowpack can erase half of what the decades long drought caused. This means that 2 good snow years could bring the lake back to its average depth. Looks like more climate change grift to me.

[@elliotoakley4664]

100% couldn't agree any better. You also gotta love how all those whining liberals in California were whining about drought and now complaining about too much rain. WOW... look at all your global warming in action.

[@deannamadrigal7503]

I just recently flew into SLC Utah for thr first time in January. I could not believe how much smog there was. NO One these days needs to have lawns. It's a huge waste of water. Wake up people

[@smallfootprint2961]

I remember bobbing on the surface of the lake as we took a little swim in it during a camping trip through the area back in my young mom days. I'm old now, and see that the lake is too. I can accept things changing though time, but don't understand the competition for the greenest lawn, which is furthering the demise of all our water ways. Can't we all agree to stop watering lawns. There's so many no maintenance yard designs nowadays. So many people believe the higher ups who say that there's no changes that we people could affect, but I believe that is one that's pretty clear, we can do something about.

[@honestlynate7922]

On the plus side, if you're an out-of-stater, boat prices are outstanding

[@zbaby82]

But you would have to put wheels on them to get around.

[@groob33]

@@zbaby82, yeah... that's called a Trailer.

[@yasminhelenendangeredspecies]

That's truly sad. Those past pictures of all the sailboats on the water is what the Lake should get back to. I hope they can! I wouldn't sell if those were my boats.

[@karanbirsingh2615]

Great coverage 👏👍

[@AdamCarsonX]

Very well done, and nicely presented with real feeling. I hope this helps aid real change.

[@elizabethpowers7540]

5 years?! Holy crap! I've never been there, but anyone with a lick of sense should be able to understand what a serious problem that is. I sincerely hope that people can buck their usual self-absorbed tendencies and do what needs to be done to avert this catastrophe. Unfortunately, selflessness is all too rare a commodity in this society, but it is not unprecedented. There have been moments in our history where people have managed to overcome their individual petty concerns and do what needed to be done for the good of all. For those of us who do not live there, let us hope this is the case and attempt to find ways to support necessary action. For those who do live there, it's up to you - not some ambiguous entity you identify as controlling things - YOU, every individual who lives and uses water and votes there. You all have impact - it's up to you what you do with it.

[@blondie7240]

its Tragedy of the Commons, even though a majority of people made changes years ago a small group of people are make more money with the unused water. People in Utah have been cutting back on water use for decades, but the water just gets used by the few who don't care.

[@EVtripper]

This made me cry

[@alvarofortunatosamayoa8640]

😢great segment.

[@seanohelan8241]

Heartbreaking and it's all our fault!

[@lcprivatepilot1969]

Maybe yours

[@mattalley4330]

@@lcprivatepilot1969 Who is to blame? Nobody. Everybody. God. At a certain point the blame gets spread out so much that asking "whose fault is it" is rather pointless. There are steps that need to be taken that can help but will people be willing to do it? Probably not.

[@Bennytree]

We got our Engagement pictures done there during sunset. It is beautiful. Fingers crossed we can do what it takes to keep it wonderful.

[@Mango_B]

I've been saying for years, why do we not have a WATER grid? We have an electrical grid. We have a transportation grid (interstates). We have grids within our cities, but the grids are NOT interconnected. Install a grid to transport water from places that have enough to places that are in need. Have a series of reservoirs interconnected. Yes, the cost will be high, but water is too precious of a resource going forward.

[@gregghoshovsky6665]

Your state's bad planning is not a reason to let you suck my state's water resources dry. Y'all think your so independent, self made men who have no need of the Feds. Red states want divorce from the blue states...Well boys and girls figure it out for yourselves without Federal help. Besides I'm sure "it will dry up in 5 years" is just a WOKE scare tactic.

[@Mango_B]

@@gregghoshovsky6665 my state, Virginia, plans well. No problems here. But when the majority of our produce is grown in the West, then the Feds need to jump in. I don't want bloated government, but that's probably the only way it gets done.

[@captainnima]

The simple solution is to build pipes from East to West to carry our excess water but that makes too much sense.

[@sharonannen8859]

* Wow! Yes, I lived there during the 1980s when the weather was wet, when we built the State Street Bridge, when the Great Salt Lake, Jordan River, Utah Lake were rising, lapping the Interstate freeway. The smell of the brine flies filled the Summer air. *

[@steveschultz7227]

And it will get wet again. And then we'll all be freaking out about some other supposed catastrophe.

[@kjorlaug1]

We we focus on agriculture in regions with basically no rain amazes me

[@mpetersen6]

The dry lakes in other locations in the Southwest have disappeared. The large lakes from the Ice Age disappeared. The Great Salt Lake is but a remnant of the the Ice Age Lake Bonneville. It is my understanding that the lake has been slowly shrinking for decades.

[@brandonperkins2447]

The entire Jordan river used to flow into the great salt lake. Lake effect snow from the salt lake would blanket the Wasatch mountains and the Jordan River would carry water to the salt lake and replenish it. Water no longer replenishes the Salt Lake, the cycle is broken and thus it’s drying up at an incredible rate. The great salt lake was not shrinking before sapiens started diverting water. Lake Bonneville had an erosion brake in the lava dam, it was the 2nd largest flood in North America.

[@kellharris2491]

Much of this is recent.

[@cbpd89]

All of this has happened in the last 30 years. A process like this should have taken a thousand or more if it were natural.

[@josephmayfield945]

😂😂😂 sure Jan.

[@ulaana]

*edit* the GSL is fine. It's up nearly 5 feet already from the epic snowpack we had this winter. And it'll probably rise another 3-5 feet in the next months. It's all good

[@TR-nw8hz]

We can only hope

[@dianethulin1700]

My family founded Davis County and I have seen this as recently as last year. I’m very worried

[@GilmerJohn]

Gad! When Romney on your side of case yous should start doing some hard thinking. In the mid 80s, the Great Salt Lake was rising to the point where roads had to be raised to keep from being flooded out. The water level has changed drastically (both ways) in the memory of those still living and will change again. The "salt flats" demonstrate that the lake was once much, Much, MUCH higher. So what? And even Romney should know is the the major consumer of surface water is agriculture. If you want to reduce water consumption, just place a modest tax on agriculture water. SInce "Ag Water" is measured in the acre foot, the equivalent of a few cents per day for domestic consumption translates to BIG buck$ for the farmers. The farmers can make plans to consider which crops to farm rather than using their entire water allocation.

[@schmoab]

Destruction of Owens Lake was a choice not a mistake. Now Utah has a choice of what to do with their water. They haven’t been the most efficient state in the West.

[@billysunday7507]

Standing out in that area you wouldn't even think about breathing in pollution.

[@usmcsaxoki]

Depressing.

[@clarestucki5151]

Actually, there was a time lomg ago when the great salt lake filled the entire great basin! Evidently it's been shrinking a helluva lot longer that what these guys are saying.

[@mattalley4330]

Agreed, but the rate of shrinkage took off like a rocket though when people started diverting most of the waters coming into the lake from rivers to irrigate farms.

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

We also have two more Dams upstream since the 1980's. Jordan L and Little Dell both large capacity and more Houses than Farms it used to be 70% plus Agraculture in the 1970's and 80's. Look at the saroundings of the Great Salt Lake Jordan River Utah lake today on Google. Glad you care enough to bring up public awareness. Keep trying.I have 28 years in the local water system but what I've done on the Jordan River in Utah was my own time

[@steveconn]

Sad to see though terrible rotten eggs smell when wind blew off it (remember from SLC airport in 03, Dennis Quaid on a payphone, interesting day).

[@rustyrolla5432]

With all the snow we've gotten this year hopefully it might do some good. Everyone needs to quit moving here so our lakes and reservoirs don't get used as fast

[@ronduff4325]

Sad

[@jamesmcintyre4243]

That's right we're full & no more water or Great Salt Lake. I hear California is nice though so go there

[@JasonAlexzander1q47]

The answer is an astounding. No

[@geomodelrailroader]

Sad to see Salt Lake like this. We need to act now and cut water use or in 5 years there will be no Salt Lake it will be reclaimed by the desert and everything will die. We need Salt lake to heal and people need to stop wasting water.

[@sweetphoenix8983]

😢

[@seththomas9105]

The explosive population growth from the Front Range thru the Intermountain West to the Coast since 1980 has had a extreme affect on the water supply for the whole region. My dad was saying it years ago that there was not enough water in the West, nevermind the Mega-drought of the last 30 years, for all the damn people.

[@rr7firefly]

Human beings destroying the world around them. We are known to make big mistakes, and fortunately there are still responsible people in power to reverse that trend. Hats off to Senator Romney.

[@mrtruth1748]

For? Thinking he's better than you.

[@yasminhelenendangeredspecies]

I really hope Mitt Romney and the Utah people can come up with a solution. This is a terrible thing to happen. I feel very sad about this for Utah. They need solutions before it's too late. Go Mitt! 💖🙏🇺🇸 ~

[@sicknado]

@@mrtruth1748 You're everything thats wrong with the world wrapped up into one.

[@alanbourne2332]

@@yasminhelenendangeredspecies don’t expect Mitt to do anything unless he personally profits from it

[@mrtruth1748]

@@sicknado??? For understand the elites and the agenda?

[@ExpeditionNomadicAdventures]

Salt Lakes Natural or unnatural impacts within a human life gives reason to consider the human impact. The question becomes, DO WE CHANGE?

[@spockspock]

The Great Basin has numerous wetlands turned artifacts. The hubris of humanity is completely disregarded by natural forces.

[@misswildlife7905]

If the contamination is so very bad where they were, why wasn't anyone wearing protection from breathing in the arsenic?

[@docwatson1134]

The wind wasn't blowing hard enough. The soil often has a crust that keeps it intact, during a major wind event that crust layer is ripped off exposing loose soil underneath. The loose soil becomes windblown, and will easily become windblown again during future windstorms. Once the process starts it will quickly escalate. The arsenic is relatively speaking not as dangerous as long as the soil stays intact. But toxic effects are cumulative over time, as it becomes airborne and blows into populated areas.

[@beexiong1105]

When I moved here to SLC back in 1998 the lake still play a major role in Utah’s weather pattern. The snow in the valley and up in the mountains were beautiful. Above in the sky as the planes circling, ready to land you can see all these rings of colors in it. The islands in the lake were cut off and are actual islands. It was beautiful! Now it’s just sad to drive by it. It looks as though the Lake is crying for help. Talk about a heart break. Some people here don’t even care, especially those that does not believe in climate change or global warming. It’s so sad.

[@powerband5235]

Climate change is made up.

[@rlbrown1009]

Terribly sad 😪 we had lots of rain & snow this year.

[@GamerplayerWT]

Preparing the way for the great sandworms - Shai-Hulud

[@stevenrobertson4470]

Has anyone ever heard of the Bonneville Salt Flats? It is an area that dries out and is flooded on a regular basis and used for setting motor vehicle land speed records. Would you not have the same heavy metals and toxic substances there that you would have if the lake dried up? If the drying lake is so bad, why do people still live and work in Wendover, Utah/Nevada? If this is a real danger, shouldn't the citizens of Wendover all be dead from toxic dust clouds? I believe there is a lot of fear mongering going on by snake-oil salesmen like Mitt Romney and others seeking power and gain by fleecing taxpayers. I live in Utah and I'm sure there is a financial loss to businesses, but let's not allow ourselves to be stampeded into outrageous "solutions."

[@JohnnyAngel8]

Yes, the Bonneville Salt Flats have toxic substances in the soil, too ... including arsenic. That flats are not inhabited but government property which can be visited. There is no overnight camping allowed. Vehicle racing activity is not done on a daily basis. I imagine it is not good for one's health.

[@sherriianiro747]

Unfortunately cancer is an insidious disease as you know, and toxic exposure can be dormant for years until something sets it off. Look at what happened to asbestos workers, 911 rescue teams, etc. Nothing good is going to come out of the Great Salt Lake dying.

[@richpaydirt]

3:05

[@jacobjames1171]

2:14 I thought he would have said it sooner.

[@user-ib9mh1vt7c]

I live in Utah working on my degree. All I can think is I hope I get out soon enough. Salt Lake already has literally the most polluted air in the entire world some days during the winter because it gets trapped between the mountains with cold air over the top holding it in (called an inversion). To have both summer and winter be toxic is really bad.

[@jamesferrin5415]

1 year revisit. Instead of drying out, today the lake is 5.3' deeper, because GSL is into its 2nd year in a row of growth. 2023 had a 3.5' year over year growth. We are expecting a similar year of growth 2024.

[@ericclaptonsrobotpilot7276]

I always got a Mormon vibe off of Lee. Makes sense now.

[@dobbysboggart6883]

What do you mean?

[@stevenmaginnis1965]

@@dobbysboggart6883 He must mean that Lee Cowan seems like a goody-two-shoes guy who doesn't drink or curse.

[@rlewisprint]

Wow I like to think I follow and watch alot of environmental videos just to attempt to keep myself aware but honestly never heard about Owens Lake. Why I ask myself now...

[@dantecarpino7500]

Be cool to see 60 minutes do a program on the lake!

[@moiznicees]

How much longer will lake Mead in Las Vegas be around before it disappear

[@TheBandit7613]

The level of Lake Mead is 100% adjustable. It's whatever the water dept wants it to be. The lake level is artificial, means nothing.

[@makavelioutlaw7037]

😥

[@norml.hugh-mann]

Still waiting for solutions

[@dirtydinner6463]

This is the reason why I will be moving out of this state. We have already seen dust storms from the lake this last summer, and will I get cancer before I turn 30…. who knows, but I’m not going to expose myself much longer or even think about building a family in a place with this kind of catastrophic issue. That would be purely irresponsible.

[@MiketheBassMan]

Nobody wants to hear it, but the simple truth is there are too many people in the desert and it’s unsustainable. You’re wise to leave while it’s relatively easy.

[@mattalley4330]

@@MiketheBassMan Agreed. Overpopulation is the elephant in the room that nobody can avoid but at the same time nobody wants to talk about.

[@glidewillie5767]

​@@MiketheBassManSLC is more of a sub-humid climate than desert

[@jamesmcintyre4243]

K bye LMAO we're full anyways.

[@dirtydinner6463]

@@jamesmcintyre4243 You won’t have that problem for much longer. Nobody is going to want to live here within the next 10 years

[@TheWolfHowling]

The Great Salt lake could be America’s Aral Sea, its waters was also diverted for “better human uses”, growing Cotton

[@zbaby82]

Stop agriculture from using the water. Problem solved. And this wouldn't cost billions of dollars.

[@davidalanjonesridge9874]

Depending on the amount of yearly snow accumulation and runoff, and how much reservoirs hold that back the Ogden and Weber rivers, and other tributaries should offer a continuous supply

[@mattalley4330]

I mean no offense, but did you watch the whole video? They plainly state that the majority of water that would otherwise enter the lake is being diverted to irrigate farms. This is the main culprit, regardless of factors like snowpack.

[@davidalanjonesridge9874]

@@mattalley4330 Yes I did view the whole video, and thanks for the reminder but my comment was made in one of the rare times I am positive. I am 76 and I still consider Ogden as my home town but I reside currently in Omaha. About the water, Nebraska and Colorado are having the same argument. I had seen and heard in the local news how the run off was ran down the SLC main street, so it was nice to that clip. Some years back I Googled Saltair, sad to see it closed and water logged. Does UP and I-80 still run run across that lake?

[@Ezoangelofdeath]

I would like to know how much this has effected Willard Bay??

[@rockya2409]

Got a love that 1985 reference when it was as high as it has ever been. Oh and mitt Romney? Ok click.

[@roytallericoGunner]

Isn't it water use that cut the flow to the Great Salt Lake? You can only have housing ..people...and farming that is within limits of your watershed. Exceeding that ..which Utah has ..has lead to this along with drought.