Evan Grauer: Brain drain could follow lake’s demise, Utah college student writes

By now, many of us recognize the environmental and economic impacts of allowing the Great Salt Lake to disappear.

We have seen reports from countless news outlets on these disastrous effects, from causing the loss of a unique and important ecosystem, to exposing residents to toxic chemicals. I have also seen firsthand how bleak environmental circumstances can cause us to disassociate.

Many of my peers often wonder if our children will have a healthy planet, and resort to nihilistic beliefs at the overwhelming magnitude of addressing climate change. These anxieties are relevant to our fight to save the Great Salt Lake, as we feel powerless and hopeless to stop our lake from disappearing. So, as a college student who grew up in Salt Lake City (but now lives in Maine), I would like to highlight some of the less publicized impacts from the loss of the Great Salt Lake. And, I want to help Utah residents maintain hope that we can convince the Utah Legislature to act now.

Brain drain — a phenomenon in which a large proportion of educated, youthful, and/or high-potential individuals migrate from a specific location to another — often occurs as a result of environmental concerns. This leaves a significant skilled labor void, greatly reducing a state or country’s potential for economic growth. I foresee this happening in Utah if the Great Salt Lake fully dries up.

As a student who has already left, I am reluctant to return to a state that may endanger my physical health. This raises crucial questions: Do we risk slowing current economic and population growth by decreasing water use to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to develop Utah’s economy? Or, do we maximize profits and economic growth now with the risk of permanently stunting Utah’s future economy? In short, if we are greedy and shortsighted with our water needs now, will we pay an even greater price later?

Framing this issue as black and white and thinking solely about economics is problematic, and I would argue is crippling the Utah Legislature in its action toward the Great Salt Lake. Yes, the economy is important, but too little attention has been given to environmental justice when determining how much to prioritize the future.

We have seen it countless times. Those who are disadvantaged, whether it be financially or racially, are routinely disproportionately affected by environmental concerns (think Flint, Michigan). And there is no reason to think that this wouldn’t occur as a result of the toxic chemicals that will be released from the Great Salt Lake. Those who have the financial flexibility to move away will indeed move, contributing to the brain drain. But, it will also leave the most impoverished individuals behind, forcing them to deal with exposure to toxic chemicals and a shrinking economy.

Despite all of these issues, I remain hopeful. Now is the time to convince the state Legislature of the necessity for action, as complacency is likely due to the record snowfall that has increased the lake’s water levels. We should instead see this as the winter giving us a head start in our fight to save our lake.

We must continue to draw the Utah Legislature’s attention to the complex issues that the loss of the Great Salt Lake would cause and urge its members to take action to save our state. If we do so, then we have the potential to ensure that future generations can enjoy and love Utah as much as we do, without risking their health and well-being.

Evan Grauer is a first year student at Bowdoin College who is double majoring in Environmental Studies and Government & Legal Studies. He was born and raised in Salt Lake City.