A strategic water release from Willard Bay is delivering nearly 10,000 acre-feet of water to the Great Salt Lake and its surrounding wetlands. According to a notice from the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the release is largely driven by construction on the Pineview Reservoir waterline project and is timed to coincide with peak fall bird migration.
The water release involves a partnership between the Great Salt Lake Commissioner’s Office, the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust, and Great Salt Lake Rising. To facilitate the delivery of water from Willard Bay to Willard Spur, the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District was utilized.
Much of the water was leased from the Ogden River Water Users Association and was released in combination with water leased from Huntsville Abbey Farm, LLC and water committed by Ogden City. This volume of water, totaling nearly 10,000 acre-feet, is equivalent to approximately 3.26 billion gallons or roughly 4,934 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Great Salt Lake Commissioner Hannah Freeze stated that the release highlights the importance of collaboration to support and sustain the lake. Marcelle Shoop, Executive Director of the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust, noted that releasing water flows to Willard Spur is crucial for preserving the health of the Great Salt Lake, especially during the fall.
Weber Basin Water Conservancy District General Manager Scott Paxman said the district is proud to facilitate the release to benefit the lake through innovative partnerships. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources also participated in the partnership, as it manages the Willard Spur and Bear River Bay Waterfowl Management Areas, which provide habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds traveling the Pacific Flyway.
The Pineview Water Line Project, officially known as the Ogden Canyon 36-Inch Pipeline Replacement, is a $100 million infrastructure upgrade managed by the City of Ogden. The project is replacing a 6.4-mile transmission pipeline that provides about half of the drinking water for more than 120,000 residents in Ogden and neighboring communities.
In 2023, the Utah Legislature established the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner to develop a strategic plan and coordinate work among various agencies and interests. Additionally, the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust was created by the state to address water challenges facing the lake and its wetlands through partnerships with nonprofit, private, and agricultural organizations.
The water release occurred alongside various state actions to stabilize lake health, such as agricultural optimization projects, secondary metering, invasive vegetation removal, and improved wetland management.
