Utah Lake
Utah Lake is one of the largest and most productive freshwater lakes in the western U.S. This keystone ecosystem is the centerpiece of our community, providing critical habitat, abundant recreational opportunities, and invaluable ecosystem services such as removing pollution and creating local precipitation. In this time of dramatic change, we need evidence-based management and legislation to protect and restore this unique, beautiful, and dynamic lake. https://pws.byu.edu/utah-lake
We Have the Power to Impact
Our Future, and We’re Doing
Something About It
A coalition of Utah conservation groups, led by Conserve Utah Valley, has joined forces stop the development of Utah Lake. You can take two important actions today to support the movement:
- Sign the petition
- Write your Utah State legislator
Photo by Jared Tamez
IG: @jaredtamezphotography
Events
Rep. Keven Stratton and CUV held the Utah Lake Summit, on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. This discussion covered the current Lake restoration efforts and progress, as well as what needs to be done to increase responsible, science-based restoration of the Lake for future generations.
Watch the recording for this event below
Updates
Stay up to date with our current progress
Repeal HB272 or lose the Lake
Despite its environmental, cultural, and economic importance, our lake is in grave danger because of a law passed in 2018. The “Utah Lake Amendments” (H.B. 272) created a loophole that allowed the lakebed to be given to commercial developers. Right now, an LLC called “Lake Restoration Solutions” is preparing to build 20,000 acres of dredged islands and house up to 500,000 people on them. The state legislature gave this company a $10 million loan guarantee in 2021 to subsidize their fundraising and permitting efforts (coverage here).
State resources and taxpayer dollars should not be used to subsidize a real estate venture that claims to have billions lined up from foreign investors. H.B. 240 was passed in the 2022 legislative session which provides needed guardrails and requires more steps for transparency. Yet, working to repeal H.B. 272 in the future will restore Utah Lake’s constitutional protection, ensuring Utah Lake is held in “public trust” in perpetuity for all Utahns, present and future.
Many healthy restoration efforts have been taking place over the past decades and are bringing the lake back to a natural healthy state. Efforts like the Walkara Way project, removal of carp and phragmites, the Provo River Delta Restoration Project and the Hobble Creek Restoration Project are helping the lake heal.
We call on Utahns from all political backgrounds to stand together to oppose this waste of taxpayer dollars that threatens our valley. Repealing H.B. 272 in a future legislative session will ensure that Utah Lake is managed responsibly for the people of Utah.
8 Reasons to sign the petition
1.
Gifting 20,000 acres of lakebed to a private developer would be the biggest government giveaway in Utah history.
2.
Despite false claims by the developers, Utah Lake is on the road to recovery thanks to hundreds of science-based restoration projects undertaken over the past 30 years.
3.
The proposed project is 370-times larger than the largest freshwater dredging project ever completed and is almost certain to fail, leaving a huge environmental mess for Utah taxpayers to clean up.
4.
Utah Lake provides recreational opportunities, pollution removal, and increasing local precipitation, which contributes to our world-class skiing.
5.
Humans inhabiting islands in the lake would increase the levels of pollution that run into the lake.
6.
Thirty-five million migratory birds and ten million fish call Utah Lake home. Destroying this lake would disrupt wildlife throughout Utah and the western U.S.
7.
These islands would permanently deface our valley, destroying the view of the lake and compromising the natural hydrology and biology that make this lake so resilient.
8.
Dredging and building islands would alter the structure and chemistry of the lake, allowing increased light penetration which would actually increase algae growth.
Sign the Petition Today
Utah Lake Conservation Coalition
