Environmental groups sue Utah over failure to protect Great Salt Lake from brink of collapse

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN

CNN — A coalition of environmental groups and conservationists is suing the state of Utah for its alleged misuse of water and failing to protect the Great Salt Lake from the brink of “ecological collapse,” according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday.

The lawsuit comes roughly nine months after nearly three dozen scientists and conservationists sounded the alarm that North America’s largest terminal lake is facing “unprecedented danger,” and that unless Utah lawmakers fast-tracked “emergency measures” to dramatically increase the lake’s inflow by 2024, it would likely disappear in the next five years.

Environmental groups are now asking the court to step in, arguing the state is breaching its public trust obligation by continuing to divert much-needed water away from the lake. The lake first hit a record low in 2021, then again in July 2022. And while an epic winter helped boost the water levels in April, it still was not enough to make up for the monthslong deficit.

If anything, it likely extended that five-year timeline for around another year, said Stu Gillespie, a senior attorney for Earthjustice, an environmental law firm representing the plaintiffs. “But the state has not done anything to resolve the fundamental problem here, which is those excessive (water) diversions” away from the lake, Gillespie told CNN. “So, the longterm outlook is still the same dire predictions about ecological collapse and public health crisis.”

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/06/us/great-salt-lake-utah-lawsuit-climate/index.html

[not fooled]

1. Hmmmmmmmmm

I wonder whether LDS ideology is driving state decision making here. I live (for the time being; moving) in another LDS-heavy area, SW AZ, and have never seen so many science-denying ruthless exploiters in the service of making money. Global warming denial is rampant. I've had LDS tell me that the climate is changing but it has nothing to do with human activity. Propaganda straight from their church.

Wouldn't surprise me if the entrenched powers in UT haven't taken global warming seriously because of the same mindset.

[maxsolomon]

4. It's not just the LDS, but they definitely have biblical mindset of

God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.

any region exploding with growth is going to tap all the available water resources. particularly in what's basically a desert.

1.2 million in that basin and growing at 1% per year.

all that water's being used up before it can get to the lake, which, face it, is pretty much useless except to breeding pelicans and brine shrimp.

[3825-87867]

2. If it continues disappearing...

will they rename it The Late Salt Lake?

[Martin68]

3. All I can say is, if these conservative Mormons don't take action, Salt Lake City is history.