The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has committed $3 million to the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner to accelerate the removal of invasive phragmites surrounding the Great Salt Lake. According to a notice from the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the funding aims to bolster critical habitat restoration, protect shoreline wetlands, and help sustain natural water inflows into the lake.
Governor Spencer J. Cox stated that protecting the Great Salt Lake is fundamental to the environment, economy, and quality of life in Utah. He noted that the contribution directly expands state efforts to remove invasive phragmites, which consume twice as much water as native plants and degrade critical habitats for millions of migratory birds.
Phragmites australis is an aggressive, non-native reed that can grow in dense stands up to 15 feet tall. The plant consumes several thousand acre feet of water each year, poses a significant wildfire risk, and can prevent water from reaching the lake. Hannah Freeze, the Great Salt Lake Commissioner, said the donation allows for continued treatment schedules aligned with seasonal ecological windows for mitigation, mechanical land clearing, and long-term shoreline restoration.
The mitigation work will be overseen by the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner. Management will occur across multiple divisions within the Department of Natural Resources, including Wildlife Resources, Water Rights, Water Resources, and Forestry, Fire and State Lands, in coordination with conservation groups and local waterfowl management entities.
The Utah Legislature created the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner in 2023. The commissioner is tasked with maintaining a strategic plan and coordinating collaborative work among various interests and agencies regarding the lake.
