Supporting the Lake and the Land

By Brian Steed and Joel Ferry

Recent studies that single out agriculture — particularly alfalfa farming — as the primary cause of the Great Salt Lake’s decline are counterproductive, as they create a false dichotomy, pitting the lake against agriculture. This approach ignores the reality that farmers are essential partners in finding sustainable solutions, and their water and land stewardship are vital to a thriving environment.

When the Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan was developed, it kept in mind all water users and everyone who is impacted by the lake. That includes every Utahn in some way. That means it will require participation from every Utahn to help save the lake. It cannot fall on one industry, agency, business or person. Protecting and preserving the lake is a tall order and requires us to come together for solutions.

Utah’s agricultural community has a strong history of adapting and conserving during droughts and in times of need. Its members willingly contribute solutions to ensure we can maintain a thriving Utah, both in terms of the Great Salt Lake and our agriculture producers.

While a water-intensive crop, alfalfa is more flexible for water conservation. Partial season leasing pays farmers to use less water and works well with alfalfa because of its deep roots, unlike most other crops that require a fixed amount of water to generate profit.

Adapting to new crops also demands investments in transportation, processing and distribution networks. Farmers are business owners whose crop choices are driven by economic realities. The agricultural exports from Utah contribute to the same global marketplace in which we all participate. Proposed state initiatives provide farmers with new potential revenue streams so their operations can be more resilient while also helping the lake.

We will only shift the long-term downward trend of the lake by conserving, dedicating and delivering water and working closely with all Utahns, including the agricultural community, businesses, cities and water districts. There are many ways we can improve conservation, some right outside our doors.

Vast quantities of water are used to maintain lawns — many of which are only touched while mowing. Outdoor watering consumes an average of 340,000 acre-feet/year (about the capacity of Jordanelle Reservoir) across the GSL basin.

While no one is advocating for removing all turf grass, switching to more water-wise landscaping, different types of grass or watering grass less provides an opportunity to save a substantial amount of water.

The Great Salt Lake Commissioner’s Office is committed to working with the agricultural community to find mutually beneficial solutions. These can be flexible and adaptable to the unique needs of each farmer. Some solutions include leasing water during shoulder seasons or when a farmer converts to more water-efficient crops; or when commodity prices are low, allowing farmers to profit more from dedicating and delivering water to the lake than they can on crops that year.