Great Salt Lake—the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere—is a crucial and irreplaceable ecosystem, and it’s in crisis. Today the lake faces historic low water levels from increased water demand and decreasing river flows, resulting in rising salinity. This threatens Utah's birds, ecosystems, water systems, economy, and people.
National Audubon Society, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, established the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust for the benefit of Great Salt Lake, its wetlands and hydrology. The Trust’s mission is to help preserve the lake’s irreplaceable wetlands and waters by fostering collaborative partnerships and innovative water projects for the benefit of people and wildlife.
When it comes to helping Great Salt Lake get back to healthy levels, securing more water is widely considered one of the most effectives solutions. The Trust works to facilitate voluntary water transactions that benefit Great Salt Lake levels and its surrounding wetlands and ecosystem. The Trust is also focused on the protection and restoration of wetlands and habitats in Great Salt Lake’s surrounding ecosystem to benefit the hydrology of Great Salt Lake.
Since its establishment in 2023, the Trust has secured ~200,000 acre-feet of water for Great Salt Lake through voluntary water transactions and through its Wetland and Habitat Grant Program, has supported the restoration or protection of ~19,000 acres of wetlands.
Many Partners Lead the Way to Save Land and Share Water with Great Salt Lake.
New study aims to understand how increased flows can help the riparian ecosystem function
Native plants and wildlife are returning as ecosystem rebounds.
“The selection ensures expert management of an unprecedented $40 million program to protect the drying lake.”
Audubon manages the 2,738-acre Gillmor Sanctuary and 305-acre Lee Creek Area along the southeastern shoreline of Great Salt Lake. The Sanctuary and adjacent land offers diverse habitats for birds, including wetlands critical for shorebirds.
Over the past 20 years, Audubon’s stewardship of this area significantly increased the population of nesting water birds, including American Avocets, Wilson’s Phalarope, Black-necked Stilts, Cinnamon Teal, and Gadwall. The preserve also provides essential resources for migrating Marbled Godwits, Least and Western Sandpipers, and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, as well as thousands of migrating waterfowl including Tundra Swans.
Through the establishment of the preserve, Audubon and partners protect and restore one of the last remaining undiked delta systems along Great Salt Lake. Learn more about Gillmor Sanctuary.
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