The Great Salt Lake used to be a massive body of water, reaching depths of up to 1,000 feet and covering about 20,000 square miles. Now, it’s drying up and looks more like a barren landscape. Recently, however, signs of life have started to appear near its southeastern shore, surprising scientists.
Over the past few years, green patches with reeds have emerged. These spots are lush enough to support plant life, raising questions about their water source. Researchers from the University of Utah are investigating and have discovered an underground system that brings fresh groundwater to the lake and its wetlands.
“This water source could be helpful in the future, but we need to understand it better to avoid harming the wetlands,” said William Johnson, a geology and geophysics expert at the University of Utah.
One major problem for the Great Salt Lake has been overexploitation. Studies show that people have increasingly used water from the streams that feed into the lake, primarily for farming and city needs. Climate change has made this worse, increasing evaporation rates in this dry area. The streams cannot keep up with the water being lost.
If managed correctly, this newfound groundwater could help replenish the lake and reduce hazardous dust emissions that affect nearby communities. To locate these underground freshwater pockets, Johnson and his team are using various tools, including piezometers and salinity profiles.
In February, they enlisted a Canadian firm, Expert Geophysics, to carry out aerial surveys over an area called Farmington Bay. A helicopter equipped with an electromagnetic sensor flew over the bay. This technology sends signals deep into the earth, detecting the returning waves to map what lies below. “It helps us create a 3D image of the underground resources,” said Jeff Sanderson from Expert Geophysics.
So far, their data hints at a large freshwater reservoir buried deep beneath the cracked lakebed. High pressure in the aquifer seems to bring water slowly to the surface. Johnson believes the emerging mounds mark where this natural source seeps up.
The team has shared preliminary findings at the Geochemical Society’s 2025 Goldschmidt conference in the Czech Republic. Next, they plan to map the water source and investigate its origin and age. Johnson emphasizes caution: “I don’t want to hype this as a water resource, but it’s clear there’s potential here. It could help reduce dust problems on the playa.”
Interestingly, recent statistics underscore the urgency of this situation. A study from the Desert Research Institute noted that the Great Salt Lake’s water levels have dropped nearly 60% since the 1980s, prompting more people to discuss sustainable water management in the area. This could be our chance to not only protect the environment but also create a healthier ecosystem for communities nearby.
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Climate change,natural resources,Water Conservation
