Utahns are confronted with many health and environmental challenges due to the diminished levels of the Great Salt Lake. This significant natural resource is vulnerable to the adverse effects of drought, water scarcity, rising temperatures and ecological disruptions, exacerbating the challenges that Utahns and many regions around the world are experiencing or will likely face due to a changing climate.
I recently moved to Park City from Cape Town, a city that came within weeks of the taps running dry because of a climate-change-induced drought. That experience sparked an interest in the Great Salt Lake and how the lake responds to these challenges and may then contribute to our understanding of solutions to global warming. So I was completely absorbed by Timothy Hawkes’ fascinating presentation on the Great Salt Lake, sponsored by the Park City Library and Recycle Utah, and previewed by The Park Record.
Hawkes began his talk with a picture of a mirror — symbolizing an image of our individual reflections —powerfully suggesting that each of us has responsibility for helping save the lake. Hawkes warns that the lake isn’t out of danger just because we had a record snowpack last winter, and he notes that we should not slow down on our efforts to conserve water. He reminded us that we are the second driest state in the country. (Yet our per capita water usage is one of the highest in the country.) As Hawkes noted, we need to “change our cultural expectations” as they relate to water. He encouraged all of us to re-think our lawns and gardens adding that cutting down on outside water usage is the single biggest thing we each can do to conserve water. Rightfully so, he was pleased with the homemade “Drought Proud” sign in his yard to explain the brown spots.
Mr. Hawkes’ commitment to the lake and his belief that it can be saved was contagious. It will take action from all of us to return the lake to a healthy level. Let’s re-evaluate our relationship with water. Then let’s take the lessons learned from managing the lake’s resources of conserving water, promoting sustainable practices, and advocating for policy changes and apply those lessons to the unearthly climate anomalies that are hitting many countries right now.
Utahns can show the wider world what it takes to solve an environmental crisis when we all come together.
Please consider proudly exhibiting conservation by allowing your lawns to display some brown patches this summer and make your own “Drought Proud” sign. And please consider reaching out to your state and federal legislators; let them know how valuable our lake and our climate is. If you want to do more, consider joining the non-partisan Citizens Climate Lobby, citizen volunteers who have come together across the country to advocate for climate solutions. As you look in the mirror let it be a reminder that we all have a responsibility and opportunity to aid in creating a safe, healthy and sustainable future for the lake, the climate, and our communities.
Thank you, Tim, for your inspirational talk and your decades-long commitment to the lake. And thanks to the Park City Library and Recycle Utah for hosting and providing an avenue for knowledge-sharing and community engagement.