State officials announced Wednesday a new $2.5 million contribution from the Utah Inland Port Authority intended to help preserve land on the southeast side of the Great Salt Lake. The funding aims to protect shoreline and wetland areas from encroaching development as the lake continues to shrink significantly below healthy levels.
Inland Port Authority Funding
The announcement was made during a news conference held at a marshland property belonging to a duck hunting club near Salt Lake City warehouses. Joel Ferry, commissioner for the Utah Department of Natural Resources, stated that the new funding provides his department with another tool to support shoreline preservation.
House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, noted that the state has already used various funding sources to purchase nearby land, including property from the former Blackhawk Duck Club located near the Salt Lake City International Airport. Schultz previously carried a 2022 state law requiring the Inland Port Authority to allocate funds for environmental and community mitigation.
Conservation and Development
The Utah Inland Port Authority has set aside a total of $7.5 million for shoreline conservation. This includes a $5 million allocation announced in January 2026 toward wetland improvements and public safety services in Salt Lake City.
Ben Hart, the executive director of the port authority, said the most effective way to protect land is to purchase it and apply conservation easements to ensure protection regardless of future zoning laws. Addressing criticisms regarding the establishment of the shipping hub, Hart acknowledged there is justification for the concerns raised by environmental groups and residents.
Environmental and Health Risks
The Great Salt Lake remains more than seven feet below its minimum healthy level of 4,198 feet above sea level. This decline threatens migratory bird food supplies and has raised public health concerns regarding heavy metals from the dry lake bed blowing into northern Utah neighborhoods.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall praised the recent contribution, noting that local communities are inextricably connected to the well-being of the lake.
Converting Investment to Water
Efforts to save the lake also involve converting large-scale investments into direct water resources. In a March 11, 2026, op-ed, Dr. Bonnie Baxter, director of Westminster University's Great Salt Lake Institute, argued that Utah must find ways to turn federal and state money into actual water for the ecosystem.
Baxter noted that tens of millions of dollars have been provided through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Saline Lake Ecosystems Act, alongside significant state contributions. These funds are used for water leasing, infrastructure upgrades, ecosystem monitoring, and purchasing water rights.
Ongoing Management Efforts
Current conservation strategies are being paired with administrative actions, including the development of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner’s office, the Watershed Enhancement Trust, and the Basin Integrated Plan.
