As Great Salt Lake Shrinks, Pressure to Do Something Grows
2022-07-17
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1The surface of Utah's Great Salt Lake dropped to its lowest recorded level this July.
2Researchers and politicians are worried about serious threats to animals and people who live near it.
3The nearby city of Salt Lake City is already facing dust storms. Experts fear these storms, which blow dirt into the air, could get worse.
4Scientist Kevin Perry has studied the lake for years.
5He said, "To save the Great Salt Lake, so that we don't become Dust Lake City, is to make a...choice that the lake is valuable and that the lake needs to have water put into it."
6For years, water that would have gone to the lake has been used for drinking water, industry and agriculture.
7In addition, an ongoing drought - a long period of time with not enough rain - has reduced the lake's water level.
8On July 3, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said that the surface of the lake fell to the lowest level since records began in 1847.
9Water levels are expected to decrease further until the autumn or early winter.
10The lake now contains about one-fourth of the water it contained when it was at its highest level in 1987.
11The lake has lost nearly half its average surface area.
12This means about 2,000 square kilometers of lakebed have been exposed.
13Dried out earth that used to be underwater has created dust clouds that contain calcium, sulfur and arsenic.
14Arsenic is an element linked to cancer and developmental problems in unborn babies.
15Exposed lakebed also has chemicals left over from copper and silver mining.
16Perry told the Reuters news agency, "If you breathe that dust over an extended period of time, like decades or longer, then it can lead to increases in different types of cancer...cardiovascular disease, diabetes and such."
17People are not the only ones at risk. Underwater reef-like structures are home to a micro-organism that is food for brine shrimp, which are an important food for birds.
18But the reef-like structures dry out and turn gray when exposed to air.
19An estimated 10 million birds of more than 330 species travel through or live at the lake each year, said Max Malmquist.
20He is with the National Audubon Society, an environmental group.
21The shrimp are also harvested and are valued at millions of dollars.
22Officials estimate that economic activity from the lake is worth up to $2 billion each year.
23Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed 11 new laws dealing with water policy in the last lawmaking season, or legislative session.
24Long-term answers will require agriculture, industry, and cities to use less water.
25Utah State Representative Tim Hawkes said there is political pressure to do something.
26"As we hit these new record lows, we start to run the risk that all of those values that we derive from the Great Salt Lake could be at risk," he said.
27I'm Ashley Thompson.
1The surface of Utah's Great Salt Lake dropped to its lowest recorded level this July. 2Researchers and politicians are worried about serious threats to animals and people who live near it. 3The nearby city of Salt Lake City is already facing dust storms. Experts fear these storms, which blow dirt into the air, could get worse. 4Scientist Kevin Perry has studied the lake for years. He said, "To save the Great Salt Lake, so that we don't become Dust Lake City, is to make a...choice that the lake is valuable and that the lake needs to have water put into it." 5For years, water that would have gone to the lake has been used for drinking water, industry and agriculture. In addition, an ongoing drought - a long period of time with not enough rain - has reduced the lake's water level. 6On July 3, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said that the surface of the lake fell to the lowest level since records began in 1847. Water levels are expected to decrease further until the autumn or early winter. 7The lake now contains about one-fourth of the water it contained when it was at its highest level in 1987. 8The lake has lost nearly half its average surface area. This means about 2,000 square kilometers of lakebed have been exposed. 9Dried out earth that used to be underwater has created dust clouds that contain calcium, sulfur and arsenic. Arsenic is an element linked to cancer and developmental problems in unborn babies. Exposed lakebed also has chemicals left over from copper and silver mining. 10Perry told the Reuters news agency, "If you breathe that dust over an extended period of time, like decades or longer, then it can lead to increases in different types of cancer...cardiovascular disease, diabetes and such." 11People are not the only ones at risk. Underwater reef-like structures are home to a micro-organism that is food for brine shrimp, which are an important food for birds. But the reef-like structures dry out and turn gray when exposed to air. 12An estimated 10 million birds of more than 330 species travel through or live at the lake each year, said Max Malmquist. He is with the National Audubon Society, an environmental group. 13The shrimp are also harvested and are valued at millions of dollars. Officials estimate that economic activity from the lake is worth up to $2 billion each year. 14Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed 11 new laws dealing with water policy in the last lawmaking season, or legislative session. Long-term answers will require agriculture, industry, and cities to use less water. 15Utah State Representative Tim Hawkes said there is political pressure to do something. 16"As we hit these new record lows, we start to run the risk that all of those values that we derive from the Great Salt Lake could be at risk," he said. 17I'm Ashley Thompson. 18Nathan Frandino reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 19_____________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21lakebed - n. the floor or bottom of a lake 22expose - v. to leave (something) without covering or protection 23reef - n. a long line of rocks or coral or a high area of sand near the surface of the water in the ocean 24brine shrimp - n. a small kind of shrimp that live in salt lakes 25species - n. biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus 26derive - v. to take or get (something) from (something else); to have something as a source : to come from something