(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) In this Nov. 2017 photo, researchers gather rock-like structures along the shores of at the Great Salt Lake that are formed by cyanobacteria known as microbialites. Bold water conservation strategies and changes in long-standing law and water policies are needed to slow the alarming shrinking of the Great Salt Lake. A recent report from an by an advisory panel found upstream diversions have long prevented vast quantities from replenishing the lake, reducing the lake by half its normal size with further declines predicted.