Letter: We need to change the way we think about Utah Lake
Since the 1900s, misinformed developers have pushed the idea of a “sick and dying lake.” This narrative can be tempting to buy into. Visitors to the lake are greeted by smelly, muddy water filled with gnats, toxic green algae blooms and thick layers of sediment instead of sandy shorelines. Previous restoration proposals have promised that damming, diking, and dredging Utah’s largest freshwater lake will put an end to these undesirable qualities, creating something more akin to popular reservoirs like Strawberry or Deer Creek.
But Utah Lake is not the same as a man-made reservoir. The lake is naturally shallow–in fact, water levels are historically higher than they’ve been due to human intervention. Natural calcite and stirred up sediment create the lake’s muddy appearance, which increases resistance to algae blooms. The number of blooms have actually decreased over the past 35 years. Finally, the smelly, gnat ridden wetlands surrounding the lake serve as a natural filter, removing excess nutrients from wastewater and storing pollutants. These wetlands also provide nesting sites for over 200 different bird species and even more invertebrate and plant life.
Restoration projects should focus on preserving what the lake already has to offer. Utah Lake is not a swimming pool, so stop treating it like one. Doing so will permanently destroy the lake’s natural ecosystem. Instead, support policies that recognize the delicate environmental balance that Utah Lake sustains. Stop making Utah Lake what it isn’t – keep it for what it is.
Desi Crane, Orem
