Audubon Assessment Featured in Leading Western Water Publication

The Water Report—an expert monthly publication that provides in-depth analysis and practical information across water sectors—featured Audubon’s Great Salt Lake Birds and Habitat Assessment (Assessment) in its October issue. The article highlights the Assessment's findings and its role in identifying conservation priorities, habitat needs, and opportunities across Great Salt Lake and its wetlands.

The Assessment was officially released at the end of June 2026. In the weeks leading up to the Assessment’s publication and those following, Audubon staff met with a diverse range of partners and stakeholders to discuss the Assessment’s findings and how they can be utilized to inform decision-making and management across the Great Salt Lake Basin. These partners include, but are not limited to, the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council and Commissioner, Utah State University’s Water Research Laboratory, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Utah Farm Bureau, Utah Geological Survey, Utah Department of Natural Resources, and the Utah Divisions of Wildlife Resources and Forestry, Fire and State Lands. 

The Assessment is already helping inform conservation and water management efforts across Utah. Utah State University's Water Research Laboratory is using the data to help identify study sites for research examining the sources and timing of flows into Great Salt Lake. The Utah Geological Survey has indicated the findings will help prioritize wetland scoring and wetland health assessments. Utah's agricultural community has also shown growing interest in using the Assessment to better understand connections between agricultural practices, wetland health, and bird populations.

Audubon will continue to work with partners and stakeholders throughout the Great Salt Lake Basin to further refine this habitat prioritization framework, strengthen its utility, and extend its research. 

Read the full water report: The Water Report - Edition 272 - October 2026