Control gates open for one of the largest natural freshwater lakes after it hits record water levels: 'Our reservoirs are full' (2024)
Outdoors
"It will take all of us working together to protect and sustain the lake."
by Leo Collis
Restoration of water levels in Utah's Great Salt Lake has received a little help from the nearby Utah Lake.
Utah Lake was considered full in February, and control gates had to be opened to release water down the Jordan River and toward the Great Salt Lake.
The Great Salt Lake has seen declining water levels in recent years amid drought conditions. As NPR and WBUR's Here & Now observed, that has led to the disappearance of migratory birds, while locals are at risk of toxic dust that has been exposed on the lake bed.
According to ABC4, around 300 million gallons per day can be released while the floodgates are open. The rising water levels in Utah Lake have been recorded following a record snowpack in 2023.
Utah also experienced high precipitation levels that broke a streak of dry years in the state. At the start of that year, the U.S. Drought Monitor said 90% of the state was in severe drought conditions, with nearly a quarter in "extreme" drought or worse, as KSL noted. This eased significantly by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, average temperatures were much lower than in other areas of the United States, easing the burden of drought.
Good news, green hacks, and the latest cool clean tech — straight to your inbox every week!
"The snowpack last year combined with the conservation efforts of Salt Lake Valley and Utah Valley residents means that our reservoirs are full," Wade Tuft, director of the Utah Lake Water Users Association (ULWUA), told ABC4. "Utah Lake is approaching the compromise elevation because water users are storing water from last year while it continues to snow and rain in the watersheds feeding Utah Lake."
However, while this is a positive development for the Great Salt Lake's water levels, Tuft tempered expectations. Around 30 thousand acre-feet of water was expected to be released from Utah Lake, but Great Salt Lake holds around 14 million acre-feet.
"In terms of impact, it's not going to be huge, but every little bit helps at this point," Tuft told KSL News.
Efforts are underway to restore the Great Salt Lake to its former water levels, and a strategic plan was announced in January 2024 to achieve this.
"Striking the right balance for the Great Salt Lake is no small task, especially among the pressures of continued growth, sustained drought and higher temperatures that threaten to increase demand and shrink available water supplies even further," Commissioner Brian Steed said in a press release. "It will take all of us working together to protect and sustain the lake."
While 2023 was something of a relief for Utah regarding weather conditions, the United States as a whole still witnessed its fifth warmest year on record, per KSL.
🗣️ Would you buy juice or yogurt made with bruised or misshapen fruit?
🗳️ Click your choice to see results and speak your mind
It's a tricky situation. While increasingly warm weather brings a rising risk of intense storms, it also makes drought conditions more likely. But since the declining levels of Great Salt Lake have been seen in the last decade or so, it stands to reason that a return to typical average temperatures is essential for the lake's survival.
That's why reducing planet-warming pollution is so important.
Small daily changes, like ditching gas-guzzling cars for public transport or electric models, or cutting your weekly consumption of meat, can reduce the amount of harmful warming gases produced by humans. Great Salt Lake will thank us for it.
The largest freshwater lake in the world in terms of surface area is Lake Superior in North America. It is the world's third-largest freshwater lake by volume after Lake Baikal in Russia and Lake Tanganyika in Africa. 10 % of the world's total freshwater is in the Superior.
Located in Russia in the southern region of Siberia, Lake Baikal is the world's largest freshwater lake by both volume (22995 km3) and depth (1741m). Lake Baikal contains 20% of the world's fresh surface water.
Lake Superior is one of the largest and most iconic lakes in the world. It is located in North America, straddling the border between the United States and Canada.
Four rivers, the Bear, Jordan, Ogden and Weber feed into the lake. They provide a constant supply of fresh water, and carry with them dissolved and suspended minerals (such as salt), sand, and rock particles. These minerals and sand are deposited in the lake. The only way water leaves the lake is through evaporation.
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world, after Lake Superior in North America. It is located in East Africa and shares its shores between three countries: Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Lake Tanganyika, second largest of the lakes of eastern Africa. It is the longest freshwater lake in the world (410 miles [660 km]) and the second deepest (4,710 feet [1,436 metres]) after Lake Baikal in Russia.
Ontario's Manitoulin Island is the world's largest freshwater lake island. It is also Canada's 31st largest island. Manitoulin Island itself has 108 freshwater lakes.
The largest lake in the world by a long shot is the Caspian Sea – a name that hints at a past when it was contiguous with the ocean around 11 million years ago. This massive saline lake, which is nearly the same size as Japan, borders five countries: Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Iran.
The average underwater visibility of Lake Superior is 27 feet, making it easily the cleanest and clearest of the Great Lakes. Underwater visibility in places reaches 100 feet. Lake Superior has been described as "the most oligotrophic lake in the world."
In the summer, the lake reeks of rotting brine shrimp carcasses. In the winter it just sits there, frigid, while everyone is preoccupied with the more enticing skiing nearby. Sketchy chemical plants and refineries appear to drain into the reservoir.Plus, it's really salty — five times saltier than the ocean.
The salinity of the water averages about 12%, making it much saltier than the ocean. The water is so buoyant that people can easily float. Freshwater showers are available to rinse off after swimming.
The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total area and the second-largest by total volume; they contain 21% of the world's surface fresh water by volume.
The Eagle River Chain of Lakes is the world's largest chain of freshwater lakes and is a great place for fishing, boating, watersports and more. Learn more here.
The Caspian has characteristics common to both seas and lakes. It is often listed as the world's largest lake, although it is not freshwater: the 1.2% salinity classes it with brackish water bodies. It contains about 3.5 times as much water, by volume, as all five of North America's Great Lakes combined.
Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
Outdoors
