State leaders announced a $2.5 million contribution from the Utah Inland Port Authority toward land preservation efforts on the southeast side of the Great Salt Lake. During a news conference held Wednesday, officials stated the funding would help protect the area from further encroaching development.
Joel Ferry, commissioner for the Utah Department of Natural Resources, said the funding provides the department with another tool to support shoreline preservation. House Speaker Mike Schultz noted that the state had previously used other funding sources to purchase nearby land from the former Blackhawk Duck Club near the Salt Lake City International Airport.
In 2022, Schultz passed a state law requiring the authority to set aside funds for community mitigation and environmental purposes. A spokesperson stated that the authority has set aside a total of $7.5 million for shoreline conservation, following a January announcement that $5 million would be directed toward wetland improvements and public safety services in Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall praised the contribution, stating that local communities are inextricably connected to the well-being of the lake. The news conference took place on marshland property near warehouses in the authority's northwest quadrant.
The Great Salt Lake currently remains more than seven feet below its minimum healthy level of 4,198 feet above sea level. This decline has raised concerns regarding public health due to heavy metals from the dry lake bed and threatens the food supply for migratory birds.
Ben Hart, executive director of the Inland Port Authority, addressed criticisms regarding the authority's presence in the area by stating that he and his colleagues aim to be good stewards. Hart noted that the best method for protecting land is through purchase and the use of land conservation easements to ensure protection regardless of future zoning laws or ownership.
