The Great Salt Lake Revisions: A Solution To Water Depletion In Utah

With the drought in Utah and concerns about The Great Salt Lake, Utah Legislature is taking steps to come up with a water distribution plan. 

HB 435, The Great Salt Lake Revisions, will direct a state water engineer to create a plan that “establishes a severance tax for the lakes minerals,” a FFSL press release said.  

“The legislation also provides a tax incentive for companies that do not deplete water in their extraction process or that voluntarily reduce their water use through an agreement with the state.” 

Compass Minerals and the State of Utah have created a Term Sheet outlining the terms and conditions for the reduction of the company's water use. There will also be strategies to help improve The Great Salt Lake.  

“This agreement provides a framework where critical minerals can be extracted when the lake is at appropriate levels, and water is conserved as lake levels decline,” said Jamie Barnes, Director/State Forester for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. “We are pleased that Compass Minerals has actively pursued an agreement with FFSL, which will be the first of its kind for Great Salt Lake.” 

This bill will help reduce the amount of water taken out of the Great Salt Lake.  

“We recognize that a healthy Great Salt Lake is essential to both the environmental and economic wellbeing of the region,” said Edward C. Dowling Jr., president and CEO of Compass Minerals. “We are proud to be pursuing this Voluntary Agreement with FFSL and are committed to actively contributing to the health and preservation of this vital natural resource.