Words by Tess Becker
There have been droughts all around the United States recently like California and Utah. Storms throughout the early months of 2023 have all but ended the drought in California and there’s also been great progress in Utah.
One of the things Utah is most well known for is the Great Salt Lake, and it's been in danger because of the recent droughts reaching a historic low point in 2022 but there’s reason to be optimistic.
There has been a concerted ecological effort made into raising the water levels in the lake and help the animals that live there. The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, as well as other state agencies, have been working to allow snowpack runoff to lower salt levels on the south end of the lake, allowing brine shrimp and flies to hatch, which could provide food for bird migration.
“With other saline lakes drying up in the West, there's not a whole lot of places for them to stop over, so it's crucial that we support them here at the Great Salt Lake,” said Ben Stireman, who is a sovereign lands manager with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands.
The efforts have been incredibly successful. The South end of the Great Salt Lake is up nearly 4 feet since the effort has begun.
Charity check-in
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Beacon Food Forest. This is one of the largest food forests in the country. Find out more and support them here.
Cultural Survival. They are an indigenous-led nonprofit focused on empowering indigenous Americans and helping the planet. Find out more.
American Forest’s. A conservation organization focused on preserving and protecting American forests. Support them here.
