President Joe Biden signed into law the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act, a bill introduced by Congressman Blake Moore. The legislation aims to create a scientific monitoring and assessment program to assist in saving the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes located in the West.
Congressman Moore co-introduced the bill with Congressman Jared Huffman and worked alongside Senators Merkley and Romney in the Senate to move the legislation forward.
The new law will provide the U.S. Geological Survey with resources to conduct scientific assessments. This work will be done in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as tribal, state, academic, and nonprofit organizations. The goal of these efforts is to establish effective management and conservation strategies to preserve essential habitats within the Great Basin network.
Congressman Moore stated that saving the Great Salt Lake and neighboring saline lakes remains one of his top priorities. He expressed gratitude to various leaders and experts involved in the process, including Senator Romney, Governor Cox, Speaker Wilson, President Adams, and State Representatives Joel Ferry and Tim Hawkes.
The Act builds upon previous work conducted by the Utah State Legislature to address declining water levels. The legislation received support from Governor Cox and a wide coalition of organizations including the National Audubon Society, Trout Unlimited, the Utah Wetlands Foundation, and the Nature Conservancy in Utah, among others.
This bill supports efforts authorized under the 2019 Concurrent Resolution to Address Declining Water Levels of the Great Salt Lake, which passed the Utah State Legislature unanimously.
