A documentary screening hosted by Grow the Flow Utah has inspired a Weber County resident to advocate for the Great Salt Lake, according to a report published August 11.
On July 31, Grow the Flow Utah held a free screening of the documentary "The Lake" at Weber State University. The film, which debuted at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, focuses on efforts to save the drying Great Salt Lake.
Travis Padilla of West Point was moved to action after viewing the film, which includes a scene showing scientists reviewing toxic dust blowing into his neighborhood. Padilla and his wife, Ashley, signed up to volunteer with Grow the Flow, a nonprofit organization represented in the film by executive director Ben Abbott.
Padilla, a Utah native, noted that his perspective changed after seeing the film. He previously viewed water usage as something that simply appeared for household needs like lawns. He described the preservation of the lake as a nonpartisan issue that affects all Utahns.
The decline of the lake is attributed to record-low snowfall, increasing temperatures, a proposed data center in Box Elder County, and visible dust. Padilla warned that if the lake dries up, the surrounding areas could become unlivable, potentially mirroring the Aral Sea disaster in Uzbekistan which led to increased disease.
Padilla's volunteer efforts include legislative outreach, media relations, and events such as Ogden Twilight. He noted that twelve million migratory birds and various wildlife depend on the lake, and its disappearance poses economic, health, and ecosystem threats.
Despite the challenges, Padilla expressed hope that human-caused issues have human-caused solutions. He pointed to recent signs of progress, including Rep. Jill Koford of Ogden passing House Bill 79 to require large data centers to report water use, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints installing smart controllers on 99 percent of their watershed properties to reduce water use.
Utahans can support efforts by limiting outdoor water use, volunteering with Grow the Flow Utah, or displaying a free yard sign. More information is available at growtheflowutah.org.
