A new report released Sept. 15 estimates that dust blowing off the shrinking Great Salt Lake costs Utahns $115.79 million annually in health-related expenses, according to researchers from the University of Utah and the Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy. The findings, which link lakebed dust to thousands of school absences and work-loss days, arrived just as Alpine City hosted its final water education event of the season.
Economic Toll of Lake Dust
The report, titled "Options and Costs for Great Salt Lake Dust Control," was commissioned by the Utah Division of Water Resources to provide data for the Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Plan. At the lake's current elevation of 4,192 feet, the dust from exposed lakebed is associated with an estimated 6.24 premature deaths, 17,052 work-loss days, and nearly 17,748 school absences each year, as previously reported by ABC4.
Projected Health Costs
Climate researchers warned that the environmental degradation could escalate if water levels continue to drop. If the lake's elevation falls to 4,183 feet, annual health costs are projected to rise to $133.67 million. Conversely, raising the lake to a minimum healthy elevation of 4,198 feet could reduce these annual costs to $73.39 million. Looking further ahead, the report suggests that under current conditions, cumulative health costs could reach $5.79 billion through 2060, whereas a healthy elevation would lower that figure to $3.71 billion.
Engineering and Mitigation Costs
The study also addressed the potential costs of engineered interventions to manage dust. According to Phys.org, implementing engineered dust controls across 70 square miles of existing hotspots would cost between $3.2 billion and $31 billion. These costs could increase by approximately 2.7 times if the active dust hotspots expand. Currently, more than 800 square miles of the lakebed have been exposed to wind erosion, with 70 square miles identified as active hotspots.
Expert Recommendations
Experts recommend a dual approach to managing the crisis, noting that engineered controls and lake stabilization should be used together rather than as alternatives. Kevin Perry, a University of Utah atmospheric sciences professor and lead author of the report, told ABC4 that the state should utilize high-quality data to identify high-risk areas, reserving engineered controls for locations where evidence proves they are necessary.
Water Management Strategy
Laura Vernon, the Great Salt Lake Basin planner for the Division of Water Resources, stated that the report's findings will shape long-term water management recommendations. Vernon noted that delivering water to the lake remains the single most cost-effective method for suppressing dust.
Community Water Education
The report's release coincides with ongoing community engagement regarding water conservation. Alpine City conducted a monthly water education series that concluded on Sept. 16 with an open house at Alpine Elementary School. During the session, BYU Associate Professor Ben Abbott, a plant and wildlife sciences researcher and leader of the nonprofit Grow the Flow, spoke on how human actions impact the health of the Great Salt Lake.
Investment in Restoration Overview
Abbott has previously emphasized the economic necessity of lake restoration. During an interview with Fox 13 on Sept. 3, Abbott noted that a separate study led by Texas A&M regarding dust health costs demonstrated that lake restoration serves as an investment that saves significant money.
