By Heather Madsen,
There are a lot of great reasons to love Utah. Our scenery alone is enough to entice millions of people to visit our National Parks every year. One of the most famous landmarks of our state is the Great Salt Lake. As one of only 30 salt lakes in the world, and the largest one in the western hemisphere, it deserves its big reputation. From the Spiral Jetty to the pink lakes inside it, I think it’s fair to say that the Great Salt Lake is an incredible part of Utah.
Unfortunately, due to drought conditions and climate change, the Great Salt Lake is shrinking and in danger of disappearing completely. Losing the lake would be terrible for many reasons. Aside from the fact that the lake is a beautiful natural wonder, it’s also part of Utah’s main water supply. The majority of its available watershed is used for local agriculture. Plus it’s a vital migration stop for over 300 species of birds. Not to mention that if the lake were to dry up entirely, toxic dust from the dry lake bed would start polluting the air.
Luckily there is something you can do to help preserve the Great Salt Lake. On Saturday, February 4th, Friends of the Great Salt Lake and Keep Nature Wild are hosting a cleanup event. The Great Salt Lake Cleanup event will be from 10 am to noon, and experts will be on-site to answer any questions you have about the lake and to talk about how we can help preserve it. All gear needed to help clean up trash will be provided, along with free juice from Natalie’s Juice.
This is a wonderful opportunity to make a positive difference in the world. All volunteers are welcome, so bring the kids, the neighbor, and your coworkers and let’s help keep our lake beautiful! Tickets and more information can be found at eventbrite.com/e/great-salt-lake-cleanup-with-friends-of-great-salt-lake-tickets-484036455067.